Wilt-Pruf: Avoid Plant Stress In the Winter

Boxwood experiencing drought, photo credit to Wilt-Pruf

Wilt-Pruf: Avoid Plant Stress In the Winter

Maintaining vibrant and healthy plants can often feel like an uphill battle. During the Midwestern winters, the ground freezes, making it tough for roots to absorb water. With this excessive moisture loss, your plants and trees are under water stress. This stress is often visible in the form of wilting.

What is Wilt-Pruf?

Wilt-Pruf is a product that enhances a plant’s resistance to wilting. It creates a protective layer on plants, sealing in moisture on foliage and stems and reducing water loss during periods of severe plant stress. This is particularly beneficial in the wintertime when plants and trees are under water stress.

Benefits of Wilt-Pruf:

It can provide 3–4 months of protection during the fall/winter.
Vibrant landscapes: Treated plants maintain color and vitality, creating a lush and appealing garden.
Sustainability: Using less water and improving plant resilience contributes to more sustainable landscaping practices.
Enhanced plant health: Healthier plants are better equipped to withstand stress, pests, and diseases.

How to Apply Wilt-Pruf to Your Plants

Choose the right products: There are several products on the market that retain moisture by creating a protective barrier on leaves. At Weller Brothers, we use and trust Wilt-Pruf.
Timing is key: In the Midwest, the best time to apply Wilt-Pruf is in the late fall when there is no new growth; typically mid-to-late November.
Check the weather: Apply on a clear day when no precipitation is expected for at least 24 hours and temperatures are above freezing.

Plant treated with Wilt-Pruf, Photo Credit to Wilt-Pruf

Plant not treated with Wilt-Pruf, Photo credit to Wilt-Pruf

Photos courtesy of Wilt Pruf

Lasting Beauty for Your Holiday Greens

Outdoor chill and indoor heating threaten the holiday greens like wreaths, garlands, and swags. Wilt-Pruf acts as a hydration hug, blanketing these decorations to slow down the drying process. Your holiday greens will uphold their freshness longer, keeping the spirit of the season alive well into the new year.

Let’s Keep Your Plants Vibrant and Healthy in Sioux Falls, Rochester, or Des Moines

As you look forward to a cozy season, make sure your landscaping does too. Let us help you make winter a time of rest, not stress, for your cherished greens.

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, Des Moines, IA, and Rochester, MN, are ready to Wilt-Pruf your foilage today!

Landscape Enhancement: Low-Maintenance Shrub Restoration

Landscape Enhancement: Low-Maintenance Shrub Restoration

Enhancement by

Ben Wolter

We all know how easily our plants and shrubs can become overgrown.

In this case, our clients hoped to clean up the landscape beds around their home, with the secondary goal of uncovering an attractive outcropping boulder that was obscured by overgrown boxwoods. Their third priority was to retain and reshape a pom pom juniper that had grown out of control.

pom pom juniper in need of pruning and shaping

a perfectly shaped pom pom juniper in minnesota

A Strategic Approach

Rochester, MN, account manager Ben Wolter assessed the situation and explained the limitations of pruning the boxwoods. Due to the size and age of the existing shrubs, they would require regular pruning to keep the boulder exposed.

Since the homeowners hoped for a lower-maintenance solution, Ben recommended removing the large boxwoods and replacing them with smaller ones.

He also assured our client that our team could restore the pom pom juniper to its original shape.

A Quick Turnaround and A Happy Homeowner

Weller Brothers completed this landscape enhancement project quickly — about one week between the initial meeting and project completion.

Typically, a crew of several Weller Brothers teammates work together on a landscape enhancement. Due to the smaller scale of this project, Ben took it on himself. He enjoyed the chance to work closely with our client with a personalized approach.

While this was a “smaller” project, the result is significant!Let us know how Weller Brothers can help your landscaping in Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Rochester.

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Enhancement Sioux Falls

Landscape Enhancement: Old Landscaping Gets a New Lease On Life

front of a midwest home with updated landscaping

Landscape Enhancement: Old Landscaping Gets a New Lease On Life

Enhancement by

Ryan Benda

When a longtime homeowner contacted Weller Brothers account manager Ryan Benda in the fall of 2022, he knew he had a fun challenge ahead of him.

The home’s landscape was overgrown with mature plants, and the homeowner was struggling to keep up with the maintenance.

Before and After

front of a home with outdated general landscaping

home with a rock bed and outdated landscaping

a Sioux Falls home with refreshed rock beds, edging, and plants

A Fresh Start

Our team’s first step was to clear the overgrown vegetation and create a clean slate. With the landscape beds cleared, Ryan worked with the homeowner to understand her vision for the space. Together, they designed a colorful, yet low-maintenance landscape that would complement the existing hardscape features like the retaining wall, steps, and walkways.

“I built the plan around existing features, accentuating them with specific plants and designs,” Ryan says. “We also included a drip-line irrigation system for easy watering.”

Blending Native and Urban

Like plant variety? Ryan’s got you covered with this design.

To achieve a low-maintenance and visually appealing landscape, he incorporated a mix of native grasses like Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Festuca, and Karl Foerster, along with hardy evergreen plants such as Mugo Pine, Arborvitae shrubs, and upright Junipers. For pops of color, he added Barberry’s and Coneflowers.

“With the perfect existing spot for a raised mulch bed, I added more native perennials for season-long blooming color by using Bee Balm, Stachys, Sedum, Yarrow, Gaillardia, and a brilliant Northern clump Redbud”, Ryan adds.

To accent the main walkway, we planted Amur Flame Maple clump trees that add a vibrant red hue in the fall.

A Client's Delight

The homeowner was thrilled with the transformation, and we’re so glad!

When Ryan showed her the before-and-after pictures, she couldn’t believe the difference. Our team transformed the overgrown, neglected landscape into a vibrant, inviting outdoor space that was easy to maintain.

How can we bring your home’s landscaping back to life? We’re here to help in Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Rochester.

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Enhancement Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Residential Landscape Wins National Gold Award

NALP Gold Award - landscape design in Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls Landscape Team Wins National Award

We are proud to announce we have been awarded an Award of Excellence – Gold by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

“It’s an honor to receive the Gold Award from NALP,” says Cole Weller, Weller Brothers CEO and President. “This project exemplifies our purpose in action – creating outdoor spaces for life’s best moments.

Chad Kasten, Senior Landscape Designer, did an excellent job meeting the clients’ needs and giving them a beautiful backyard to make memories with family and friends.

Our operations team, including Landscape Operations Manager Tyler Nelson and Foreman Nolan Meier, executed the job wonderfully. They are just a few of the many team members it takes to bring a project like this to life. It’s a proud moment for the whole Weller Brothers team!”

Before and After

This once-empty, sloped area was transformed into a multi-level oasis featuring large natural stone retaining walls, a custom-lit pool, artificial turf areas, an outdoor kitchen, extensive softscapes, and more.

Our team completed the project in two phases over two years.

a sioux falls residential backyard with multi-level retaining walls, a pool, patio, and more

"We had a moment, right before the Fourth of July, when we were relaxing and all five kids were in the pool playing and throwing each other around. And it was really kind of an emotional moment; we knew it was worth it. This is it. This is why we did it."

– Homeowner

front yard of a sioux falls home before landscaping

an award-winning front-yard landscape design in sioux falls

About the NALP Excellence Awards

Each year, the National Association Landscape Professionals Awards of Excellence recognizes exceptional commercial and residential lawn care and landscape installation, maintenance, and design projects from around the nation.

This year, 246 awards were bestowed to companies for their outstanding work.

This is the second time Weller Brothers has won a national Award of Excellence; the Rochester, MN, team won a Bronze award in 2023.

Take a Tour of the Winning Project in Sioux Falls, SD

While you may not be able to relax in this backyard yourself, you can certainly take a virtual tour of this award-winning backyard in Sioux Falls!

Then, once you’re feeling inspired, reach out to us to begin creating your outdoor living space in Rochester, Sioux Falls, or Des Moines. Who knows – maybe it will win our next award!

Sioux Falls

Three Methods To Winterize Your Irrigation System

Save your irrigation system and your pocketbook for the spring.

If you have a lawn irrigation system, you need to winterize it before temperatures plunge to the freezing point.

If you do not winterize your irrigation system, you will likely need to repair or replace your irrigation system in the future.

What Is the Risk of Not Winterizing?

Unlike your house, irrigation pipes live below the soil and take on the soil temperature. When Midwest temperatures decide to plunge, the ground also begins to freeze, freezing your irrigation pipes along with it.

As water begins to freeze, it also expands. This expansion can cause your pipes and fittings to burst, ultimately ruining your investment and making it no longer functional.

Winterization Methods

There are three different methods for draining water from your sprinkler or irrigation system:

manual drain
automatic drain
blow-out

The method you use depends on the type of irrigation you have in place.

If you are inexperienced in winterizing your irrigation system yourself, the professionals at Weller Brothers are here to help. Keep in mind that you will not be the only one requesting these services, so plan ahead.

Manual drain method

Some irrigation systems are equipped with manual drainage. These systems allow you to empty excess water from the system by opening a valve.

If you have manual drain irrigation, follow these steps:

Turn off the water supply to the system.
Look for the manual valves at the ends and low points of the piping.
Open all the valves and drain the water from the system.
Drain the backflow device.

Some irrigation systems are equipped with check valves. These devices allow water to only flow one way. If you have check valves on your system, try raising the sprinkler heads. This allows water to drain out of the sprinkler heads. Once the entire system has been drained, close all the valves.

Automatic Drain Method

An auto drain system has valves that automatically drain water from the pipes. This happens only when the water pressure falls below a certain number of pounds per square inch.

To activate an automatic drain function, follow these steps:

Turn off the water supply to the system.
Briefly run one of the sprinkler heads to drop the water pressure.
Automatic draining will begin, clearing the pipes of excess water.

You may still need to drain the water between the shut-off and backflow device. If the sprinkler heads are equipped with check valves, empty them separately.

Blow-Out Method

The final way of draining an irrigation system is the blow-out method. This is the method that Weller Brothers irrigation specialists use to ensure that your system is shut down properly without risk of damage.

To drain the pipes, you force compressed air through the irrigation system. This discharges excess water through the sprinkler heads. This method can be potentially hazardous and damaging if you do not have a system that can handle the pressure. If you have never blown out an irrigation system before, please consult a professional. This will save you from frustration, possible injury, and repair costs.

Contact Us For Irrigation Winterization in Sioux Falls, Rochester, or Des Moines

Before freezing temperatures hit the Midwest region, it is important to plan ahead.

The irrigation professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, Des Moines, IA, and Rochester, MN, have the experience to properly shut down your system for the winter.

Des Moines Rochester Sioux Falls

A Neglected Space Reimagined

outdoor kitchen will grill and pizza oven in rochester, mn

A Neglected Space Reimagined

Design by

Michael Blazing

In Rochester, MN, we are raising the bar for outdoor living, and that includes helping homeowners utilize their backyard to its fullest potential throughout the year.

This home is a perfect example.

In this landscape tour, we transform an underutilized backyard into a revitalized living area to gather outdoors throughout the seasons. The existing backyard included a concrete patio, an old wooden privacy fence, and a non-functional hot tub which created a lackluster outdoor living space.

Our Rochester clients saw potential in the backyard and approached our Weller Brothers team to reimagine the space and bring it to life.

Designing a Central Hub

Our first step was to identify and create a focal point, and we did so by centering the outdoor living space around the windows of the house. This connected the indoor and outdoor areas and provided a seamless flow.

Framing the space on one side is a large fireplace, featuring a large central hearth. Two accent gas fire pits add another unique element to the space.

Across the patio from the fireplace is an outdoor kitchen, positioned closer to the home’s door for easy access.

The outdoor kitchen was a standout feature, custom-designed to meet our clients’ specific entertaining needs. This has all the features you could possibly need in an outdoor kitchen, including:

Beautiful stone masonry
Grill
Ample storage
Pizza oven
Pergola for shade
Task lighting for nighttime use

Selecting High-Quality Materials

Quality is one of our Roots, and this extends to every product and material we use in our projects.

The patio: we formed the foundation of the patio using Techo pavers, featuring Blu60 slate pavers. The pavers complemented the natural stone elements in the kitchen and fireplace, creating a harmonious color palette. We also used Techo Valet pavers as an accent in the paver pattern, to provide a cobble-like paver to tie in the style of the masonry stone.
The fireplace: we selected Warming Trends stainless steel burners, which put out large flames and a lot of heat.
The kitchen: you’ll find Summerset stainless steel accessories, including the Summerset 36” grill. When it’s time for a slice, the Alfa Moderno 2 gas pizza oven is speedy and easy to use.
The pergola: we selected a natural rough-sawn cedar pergola, as the raw material blends well with the style of stone used for the kitchen area.

Overcoming Challenges

No transformation comes without its challenges, and our experienced team is well-equipped to problem-solve for nearly anything during a landscaping renovation. With this project, we found solutions for the following scenarios:

To accommodate the gas-powered features of the outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and pizza oven, we coordinated with the plumber and gas company to increase the gas meter size.
We had to adjust a couple of vents on the side of the house to accommodate the steps leading from the rear door. A custom-built steel vent integrated into the steps provided a solution

Client Satisfaction – Now It’s Your Turn!

We are honored that our clients trusted us with their backyard transformation, especially because they were away for much of the time as we installed the design.

We communicated regularly by sending them progress photos, and their excitement grew with each update.

Upon returning to home for the summer months in Rochester, they were overwhelmed by the quality and thoroughness of our work and were excited to use their new outdoor living space.

Do you wish your backyard was more functional? Does it need a remodel like this one did? Whether you hope for a pizza oven and cozy fireplace like these homeowners, or you envision a peaceful garden oasis, we have the expertise to design and build a space you’ll love.

Designed

the Weller Brothers Way.

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Sioux Falls

Overseeding: What Is It and Why Should You Do It?

Are bare spots and thinning grass blades taking over your lawn?

Do you fertilize your lawn and seed the soil every spring, but your turf just won’t grow as lush and green as your neighbor’s?

Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals is here to help you understand why overseeding may have failed in the past and how it can help save your lawn this year!

What is Overseeding?

Overseeding is an easy method of planting grass seed that avoids disturbing the soil in your yard.

This method differs from new lawn seeding because overseeding is exactly like it sounds – planting new seed over an existing lawn.

When to Overseed Your Lawn

You should overseed in the fall, typically between late August and early October before the first freeze.

In the Midwest, we recommend that lawns be seeded with cool-season grass that is best acclimated to our temperate climates. The most common grasses used in our area are Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, which are designed to thrive in cooler temperatures.

When planted outside the appropriate season, these grasses will struggle to germinate and grow in the summer heat. This will result in having to re-overseed again in the fall. If you’ve struggled with overseeding before, perhaps this timing was the problem.

Fall is also the time of year when you should aerate your lawn. At Weller Brothers, we always recommend that overseeding be performed alongside aeration in the fall.

Important Factors to Consider When Assessing Your Lawn

If you notice any of the following conditions in your lawn, it is important to consult with a lawn care professional. They will determine if overseeding should take place sooner rather than later.

Thin Grass
Bare Patches
Invasive Weeds
Brittle Grass Blades
Undesirable Grass Types
Spreading Fungal Infections
Pest Damage
Poor Drainage

Lawn in Sioux Falls, SD that has not been properly maintained.

Can You Overseed in the Spring?

You shouldn’t. Here’s why.

Cool-season seeds need cooler temperatures to germinate; warm-season seeds perform best when planted in the warmer weather of late spring or early summer. However, we do not recommend using warm-season grass seeds in the Midwest climate zone, which is why Weller Brothers Landscaping overseeds in the fall.

Springtime is when we begin our fertilizer program, beginning with the pre-emergent. Pre-emergent is an herbicide that produces a protective barrier across the soil surface to prevent weeds from emerging. Pre-emergent is non-selective, which means it will prevent the growth of any non-established vegetation – not just undesirable weeds and grasses.

Spring pre-emergent application is crucial to the health of your lawn, as it is the best method of fighting off weeds before they disrupt new grass growth. Even if pre-emergent is not applied, cool-season grass seeded in spring will develop shallow roots because the conditions are not ideal for growing. This is why we do not recommend overseeding in the spring.

Contact Us For Overseeding in Sioux Falls, Rochester, or Des Moines

As winter approaches, don’t miss out on the benefits you’ll see next spring from overseeding in the fall.

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, Des Moines, IA, and Rochester, MN, have the experience to properly overseed your lawn today.

Des Moines Rochester Sioux Falls

Modern Elegance With a Prehistoric Flair

backyard patio and pergola with outdoor dining

Modern Elegance With a Prehistoric Flair

Design by

Ron Peterson

A few months after settling into their new home, these Sioux Falls homeowners wanted even more living space, and they contacted Weller Brothers to extend that into the outdoors.

The existing lawn was healthy, but it was wide open and lacked defined areas for relaxation and entertaining. The homeowners envisioned a patio area with shade, a relaxing water feature, and high-quality outdoor seating.

A Modern Design With a Prehistoric Feature

How many people can say they have a 1.6 billion-year-old item in their yard?

Well, we know of someone!

Our clients had the fun idea to include a Sioux Quartzite water feature in their backyard – a nod to the area’s unique metamorphic rock.

However, they didn’t want the entire outdoor space to look prehistoric, and landscape designer Ron Peterson thoughtfully selected the complementary patio pavers and surrounding pant material.

To achieve a clean and modern look for the patio, he chose light gray pavers, surrounded by low-maintenance plants.

“Our client has an artistic personal style, so we selected ornamental evergreens with a fun and whimsical flair,” explains Ron.

Adding Elegant Details

We called upon our friends at Zobel Carpentry to assist with the large pergola that looms over the patio, providing shade and defining the space.

For a few final touches of elegance, the homeowner selected an outdoor chandelier to hang above the patio dining area – shoutout to Albers Electric for the outdoor power! Finally, Weller Brothers furniture design consultant Kari collaborated with the homeowners to select stylish and durable outdoor furniture to tie the entire space together.

We love this backyard that has transformed from a blank space to a party space, complete with a unique conversation piece!

Designed