A lifelong connection to landscaping has shaped the growth of Outback Lawn & Landscape and Tree Service, a locally owned business operated by Jared Dockery and his wife, Maddie.
Dockery said the business offers a wide range of exterior property services, including lawn care, landscaping, tree and shrub pruning, mulch installation, retaining walls, fencing, and paver patios for both residential and commercial clients.
“We handle pretty much anything exterior — property maintenance, mulch, landscape installations, tree and shrub pruning, retaining walls, fences — just about anything outside,” Dockery said.
The company has also carved out a niche focused on education and sustainability, encouraging clients to rethink how they view plants and even weeds in their yards.
“We push edible gardening spaces,” Dockery said. “We try to apply the knowledge that we’ve learned with plants and weeds — not only do we try to prevent weeds in people’s gardens, but we also push discussions on things that are medicinal and edible.”
Dockery’s experience in the field dates back to his childhood, when his parents owned schools and nurseries. He said he began working at a young age and gradually built the foundation for what would become his own business.
“From the time I was about eight, I was on a lawnmower maintaining a commercial property for them,” Dockery said. “That developed into a point where I was old enough to take on several of those schools.”
He said he transitioned into running his business full-time in his late 20s after building up a base of commercial and residential clients.
“I started obtaining other properties part-time until I quit my day job,” Dockery said. “I was about 27 when I quit. I’m 48 now.”
Over the years, the company has expanded and contracted at different times, depending on business needs and direction. At its peak, Dockery said he managed multiple crews and handled large-scale contracts across the region.
“I had three to four crews out daily for years,” Dockery said. “We mowed everything from state parks to the housing authorities of Owensboro — large properties, hotels, and apartment complexes.”
Today, the operation is smaller and more hands-on, with Dockery and his wife leading the work.
Dockery said faith has played a central role in shaping both the business and its direction.
“There was a lot of prayer and petition that went into it before stepping into it,” Dockery said. “Trying to figure out who God wanted me to be in business.”
That mindset has also led the couple to take their work beyond the local community. Dockery said they have participated in mission efforts in Honduras, helping build playgrounds and exploring ways to assist with sustainable gardening practices.
“We’ve been asked to come back and maybe figure out how to do some gardening spaces for the missionary ranch,” Dockery said. “Utilizing natural resources as far as fertilizers and things of that nature.”
Dockery said one of his favorite aspects of the job is the variety it provides, allowing him to shift between different types of projects.
“I like to create,” Dockery said. “I can be in a yard planting shrubs one day, and maybe the next week I’m doing a fence. It keeps me from getting bored.”
He said he also enjoys working outdoors and seeing the unique character of each property.
“I love being outside, and I love visiting everybody’s gardens,” Dockery said. “It’s nice to see different gardens all day long.”
In addition to landscaping services, the company also handles snow removal for both commercial and residential clients, with past work including large retail and restaurant properties.
Dockery said the business maintains an active online presence, sharing project updates and educational content through its website and social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
More information about Outback Lawn & Landscape and Tree Service can be found on its website at https://outback-outdoors.com/.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By: John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times