How to Identify and Prevent Blight Disease In Your Lawn

a Midwest lawn has brown spots from blight disease

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How to Identify and Prevent Blight Disease In Your Lawn

We all know what it’s like to feel stressed out. So does your lawn!

When your lawn is stressed, the leaves and blades of grass may turn brown, bleached, or straw-colored. This is a clear symptom of blight disease.

Similar to with Red Thread Disease, your lawn will grow out of blight disease, but it takes practice adjustments and time. The best way to prevent blight is to take preventative measures to keep your lawn stress- and fungus-free.

Why Did My Lawn Get Blight?

Your lawn becomes stressed by several factors, including:
  • weather and moisture fluctuations 
  • compacted soil
  • improper mowing or watering practices

When any of these occur, blight disease takes over and you’ll see large, irregular patches of dead or discolored grass in your yard.

While this looks bad, there’s good news – blight primarily affects the leaves but doesn’t damage the roots, so it’s not a serious long-term threat to your lawn.

How Can I Prevent Blight?

The best way to prevent blight disease in your Midwest lawn is to keep it healthy and stress-free. We typically see blight disease appear on lawns that have received poor watering practices, are mowed with dull blades, or have a very thick thatch layer.

So, here are some initial steps you can take to improve your lawn care practices:

  1. Perform deep and infrequent watering vs. frequent and shallow watering. This allows the water to soak further into the soil, encouraging the grass to develop deep roots that can withstand stressful dry periods.
  2. Maintain proper mowing height for the grass type (usually 2-3 inches), which allows the grass to shade the soil and retain moisture.
  3. Sharpen mower blades regularly. This creates clean cuts that heal faster and are less prone to infection.
  4. Perform core aeration in the spring and fall. When soil becomes compacted, it restricts nutrient movement to the roots. This causes stress, making it more susceptible to fungal diseases. Aeration alleviates this compaction. 
  5. Perform dethatching/power raking in the spring. Thick thatch layers trap moisture and create a humid environment in your lawn’s soil – a perfect place for fungus! When you remove this excess thatch, air can circulate better near the neal and reduce moisture build-up.
If you don’t have the time or desire to follow lawn care practices like proper watering, mowing, aeration, and dethatching, then maybe it’s time to hire a full-service lawn care team like Weller Brothers!
Here you can see that the lawn is green just around the sprinkler head. This is an indication of short but frequent waterings. For best results, water less frequently – once every five days – but longer at each zone.

How Do I Treat Blight?

Once you address the stress factors by implementing the above practices, blight disease will likely resolve on its own. We do not recommend treating blight with fungicides but rather by correcting the stress-causing practices.

So, here are your next steps if your lawn has blight disease: 

  1. Identify the stress-causing factor(s). Are your mower blades dull? Has it been years since you’ve had aeration and dethatching?
  2. Fix the issue. For example, get new mower blades. Or, schedule aeration and dethatching with Weller Brothers. 
  3. Give it time. Once you have addressed the stress factor, your lawn should bounce back to health in 4-6 mowings. 

Weller Brothers Is Here to Help

There are many turf diseases to watch out for in the Midwest. If you notice brown or dry spots in your lawn, something’s up.

The best thing to do is contact a turf specialist at Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals so he or she can identify the lawn disease and the proper treatment.

Seeing Pink In Your Lawn? It’s Likely Red Thread Disease

Red Thread Disease appears as pink fuzz in a lawn

Seeing Pink In Your Lawn? It’s Likely Red Thread Disease

Seeing spots?

Are they pink?

And fuzzy?

No, you’re not crazy; you have Red Thread Disease. (Well, your lawn does.)

Red Thread Disease is a fungal disease that affects turfgrass during wet or cool weather. You’ll also see it pop up right after periods of heavy rainfall.

While that cotton-candy look in your lawn might be interesting, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of it.

Is My Lawn Done For?

Great news! Red Thread disease will not kill your lawn and the consequences of the fungus are purely aesthetic. However, it is contagious and will spread by mowing or transferring grass clippings to healthy areas of your lawn.

If you’ve caught a case of the Red, you have a couple of options:

  1. Do nothing. Thankfully, your turf will recover on its own with time. It’ll just be ugly and patchy until then.
  2. Have a turf specialist at Weller Brothers inspect your lawn. There may be issues that necessitate a fungicide treatment to reduce the severity of the disease and promote rapid turf recovery. We’ll have your lawn looking great again in no time!

How Can I Prevent Red Thread Disease?

We’re so glad you asked!

There are several cultural practices you can improve or implement to prevent future visits from this fuzzy fungus friend:

  • Promote good air circulation with regular mowing, trimming edges, aeration, and dethatching
  • Always mow your lawn at an appropriate height
  • Water deeply, but less frequently to avoid a constantly damp environment 

Weller Brothers Is Here to Help

We are your turf experts in Rochester, MN, and Sioux Falls, SD. If you’re unsure how to tackle the Red Thread Disease in your lawn, we’d be happy to provide a recommendation and discuss treatment options if necessary.

How Moisture Manager Benefits Your Lawn and Your Water Bill

How Moisture Manager Benefits Your Lawn and Your Water Bill

Did you know that with one or two simple applications, you can reduce your lawn watering by 50%?

Is your irrigation schedule racking up your water bill without creating a green, luscious lawn like you envisioned? You are not alone in the uphill battle of managing the moisture levels of your lawn. The professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, and Rochester, MN have a simple solution — Moisture Manager.  

Moisture Manager is a granular application that provides extensive health and aesthetic benefits to your lawn. 

No matter the weather, the Weller Brothers Way is to adapt and continue providing our clients with innovative solutions for their lawn health goals. It is time to reclaim the added expense and stress of irrigation and consider Moisture Manager to reduce the need for watering by nearly 50%.

Benefits of Moisture Management

1. Control or Eliminate Dry Spots: Moisture Manager is a granular application that can be applied at the same time as a fertilizer and weed control application. The formula is evenly spread throughout the lawn and penetrates the soil near plant roots. The technology within the Moisture Manager ensures that water is evenly absorbed within your soil and held for times of drought.

2.  Reduce Thatch Build-up: Thatch build-up occurs when lawns are watered too shallow or frequently causes the grassroots to not grow deeply enough within the soil. Moisture Manager promotes deep root growth and can lessen the amount of thatch build-up in your lawn. In addition to applying Moisture Manager during the growing season, aeration in the fall is beneficial to reduce soil compaction promoting growth the next season.

3.  Enhance Nutrient Absorption: Well-hydrated lawns can evenly and more efficiently absorb natural nutrients as well as nutrients that are added through fertilizer. Applying fertilizer to your lawn can help it grow well and maintain the ideal look, however, if the soil presents too much or too little moisture, the fertilizer will not be as effective. 

 4. Protect Against Drought Stress and Disease: Long periods that include a lack of moisture can cause lawns to go into drought stress. This could include browning of the grass or going into a dormancy stage that does not generally take place until the weather begins to cool. Lawn rust is one of the most common forms of lawn disease that develops from a lack of moisture and will show orangish-brown spots that will get larger as the disease progresses.

5. Improve Flood Control: Moisture Manager is not only helpful in a time of drought but also in times of heavy rainfall. Moisture Manager will help your soil evenly retain water deeper within the soil allowing grass roots to grow deeper and stronger rather than shallow and weak creating a thatch layer. When moisture levels are high you may notice that your lawn creates pools of water that eventually evaporate and are not useable to your lawn.

When is the best time to apply Moisture Manager to my lawn?

As if Moisture Manager does not have enough benefits in itself, another benefit is that you cannot go wrong by applying it! Below are a few recommendations from the lawn care professionals: 

  • Springtime — this allows for the moisture manager to penetrate deeply into the soil as spring rain falls and prepare for an unpredictable summer season. 
  • Summer —  as we reach the halfway mark of the Midwest lawn care season (July or August), the summer can be harsh on lawns as the rainfall can vary. Ensuring your lawn is being irrigated enough can become costly and ineffective. Moisture Manager in this season will ensure that your watering efforts are being maximized. 
Fertilizer application in Sioux Falls, SD
Pair your fertilizer application with Moisture Manager

How to tell if it is time to apply or reapply Moisture Manager?

On average, Moisture Manager is effective for 90 days after application, meaning that two treatments a summer should be all you need. If the grass is starting to require more frequent irrigation to stay healthy, you will need to reapply. 

Contact Us For Moisture Management in Sioux Falls and Rochester

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, and Rochester, MN, have the experience to identify if your lawn could benefit from Moisture Manager services. 

Sidewalk Edging: Why Your Lawn Needs It

After sidewalk edging in Sioux Falls, SD

Sidewalk Edging: Why Your Lawn Needs It

Have you ever wondered, “What is sidewalk edging?” or “Do I even need to bother edging my yard?” The professionals with the Weller Brothers team in Sioux Falls, SD, and Rochester, MN are here to defend the hype behind sidewalk edging. 

Sidewalk edging is a simple once a year service that makes a huge difference in lawn health and property value! 

The Weller Brothers Way is to approach lawn health in a comprehensive, timely, and professional manner. It is time for you to take back control of your sidewalks and learn why sidewalk edging is the solution to your lawn health problems. 

Before photo of sidewalk edging in Sioux Falls SD After sidewalk edging in Sioux Falls, SD
Before photo of sidewalk edging in Sioux Falls SD

5 Benefits of Sidewalk Edging

1. Smart Water Management: Midwest rainfall can be unpredictable, so preparing your lawn for heavy rains should be a priority.

Have you noticed that water pools in strange areas after it rains, specifically near your home’s foundation? Sidewalking edging helps you take control of this. Edging will help guide the water away from your house and avoid flooding your favorite landscaping plants. Think of edging like the bumpers found at the bowling alley — keep the water flowing exactly where you want it!

2. Keep the Trespassing Weeds to a Minimum: Edging your lawn is similar to building a fence or putting up a “no trespassing” sign for weeds. The clean line serves as a barrier, making it harder for weeds to trespass onto your property.

Not only does it serve your lawn better, but sidewalk edging can keep the weeds from invading your flower beds, too. It’s a win-win: less weeding, healthier grass, and a sharp-looking lawn. If you are having persistent problems with weeds in your lawn, we have a solution for that too with our fertilizer and weed control program.

3. Top Tier Organization: Lawn edging defines where gardens, walkways, or even your patio begin and end. This is similar to drawing a map of your yard; edging makes everything neat and prevents accidental trampling or mowing of flower beds. Not only will this make your yard look polished, but you will also be able to easily identify where you should mow.

 4. Pest Protection: A similar reason to water management, edging will create a mini-wall that helps deter pesky pests from your landscape beds, garden, and patio. As a bonus, a clean edge makes it easier to spot pests and damage so you can take action immediately. 

5. Property Value: Property value is important to any homeowner. Whether you are looking to sell or reappraise the value after the hard work of making your house a home, edging could help. Sidewalk edging is a simple way to make your lawn look like a well-maintained and high-quality property. Clean lines always impress potential buyers and boost your curb appeal.

When is the best time to edge my lawn?

While there is not a set date that you must edge your lawn, it is a task that you’ll want to tackle a few times a year and it will depend on different factors. 

  • Springtime: This provides optimal moisture in the soil while your grass is actively growing. Performing edging in the spring sets your lawn up for success throughout the growing season.
  • Summer: As we reach the halfway mark of the Midwest lawn care season (July or August), the summer provides a great opportunity to reclaim overgrown edges and manicure your lawn for the rest of the season. 
  • Concurrent with each mowing: this ensures that your lawn edges stay well-manicured and benefit your property all season long. 
Finished sidewalk edging in Sioux Falls, SD

How to tell if it is time for sidewalk edging?

The key to edging is to do it before your yard begins to resemble an overgrown jungle. Below are a few ways to spot if it is time for sidewalk edging: 

  • The grass is overgrown on your sidewalks, driveway, or flower beds. Overgrowth is the number one sign that you should edge your lawn. 
  • Frequently mowing — if you are mowing your lawn frequently or battling fast-growing grass, you will likely need to edge more often to keep your lawn edges sharp. 
  • Soil conditions and crumbling soil can lead to uneven grass growth, which will result in more frequent edging.

Contact Us For Edging in Sioux Falls and Rochester

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, and Rochester, MN, have the experience and equipment to properly edge your lawn this summer.

Top 5 Pests in Sioux Falls, SD – Here’s How to Prevent Them

man applies perimeter pest control to a Sioux Falls home

Top 5 Pests in Sioux Falls, SD – Here’s How to Prevent Them

Pests bring a significant threat to the health and curb appeal of your home. Insects and rodents are capable of causing extensive damage to your property, so high-quality pest control and prevention is vital to maintain the health of your trees, plants, and lawn. 

Ryan Myott at Weller Brothers says that there are a handful of common pests that South Dakota homeowners should watch out for in the spring.

“At Weller Brothers, we know that it’s easiest to prevent pest problems rather than treating them reactively,” Ryan says.

The Weller Brothers Way is to approach pest prevention with effective applications that are safe for both our team and your home.

Ryan Myott setting Vole traps in Sioux Falls, SD
Ryan Myott preparing to set Vole traps

5 Common Pests in Sioux Falls Homes

1. Grubs and billbugs: These insects feed on the roots of turf grasses, causing discolored patches in your lawn. In addition to destroying the look of your lawn, they attract animals like skunks and raccoons that can carry rabies.

2. Rodents: A rodent problem of any severity is more than a minor inconvenience, and can become a large problem if not effectively controlled. Once rodents find a home in your existing landscaping, they may try to go inside your home to escape the midwestern outdoor elements. 

Voles are one of the most common rodents that we remove in Sioux Falls, SD. You can spot a vole infestation by identifying runways and borrows throughout your lawn.

3. Japanese beetles: This beetle emerges in late June or early July and damages the leaves and flowers of woody or ornamental plants. The Japanese beetle eats at the tissue between leaf veins and reduces the amount of food a plant can produce, which over time kills the plant, leaving them “skeletonized.” It’s important to prevent Japanese beetle infestation early on as they will also attract other forms of beetles to feed on any food sources that they find.   

EAB infected Ash Tree
Ash Tree infected with Emerald Ash Borer

 

4. Spiders, flees, ticks, and chiggers: Insects of any kind not only cause a major disturbance in enjoying your outdoor area, but they also can be carried into your home. To ensure the safety of your family, including furry friends, it’s best to prevent insects, rather than having to treat and remove them after they have already taken over your outdoor space.

5. Emerald Ash Borer: This destructive insect is prominent in Sioux Falls and continues spread to surrounding communities. It causes canopy thinning and cracks in the bark of Ash trees, causing them to become weakened and a safety hazard to surrounding homes. 

The city of Sioux Falls, SD requires that you treat all Ash trees every two years or removed from the property. If you live within the quarantine area, ash trees, ash brush, or logs are permitted to be removed from the area to avoid further spread. Trees with EAB can’t be saved without extremely early detection. To save yourself from losing your ash trees and property value, the best option here is to prevent it.

What Should You Do Now?

If you notice signs of pests or insects, you need to seek a professional pest control service. The Weller Brothers team in Sioux Falls, SD, is ready to promptly complete an inspection to accurately identify the specific pest and develop an expert plan for treatment and future prevention.

Sioux Falls, SD, Rain delays with Keloland News

Phil Nystrom of Weller Brothers speaks about the rain delays in Summer of 2024

Phil Nystrom Discusses rain delays on Keloland news

Many Sioux Falls residents have noticed lawn, tree, or landscaping service delays due to increased rain and standing water. 

On June 21, 2024, Keloland News in Sioux Falls, SD, caught up with Weller Brothers Lead Arborist Phil Nystrom to talk about what clients can expect with the rain we have received and how we can combat standing water in the lawn. 

A Spring Surprise: Vole Damage

Ryan Myott setting Vole traps in Sioux Falls, SD
Ryan Myott setting Vole traps in Sioux Falls, SD

A Spring Surprise: Vole Damage

We currently offer vole and pest control services at our Sioux Falls, SD, location only. 

Voles are small rodents that can cause a big problem. If you have ever experienced voles, you have more than likely experienced the “vole runways” that they create in your yard. They can often be seen once all of the snow from the winter season melts in the spring. 

The runways that voles form in your yard can damage the roots of grass, young trees, and other plants, making it difficult for them to grow. Not to mention the Voles travel pathway does not add to your home’s curb appeal. 

The professionals at Weller Brothers are ready to develop a foolproof plan to safely remove the vole population that has taken refuge in your yard.

Vole trap being filled with Vole Bait in Sioux Falls, SD

Vole Prevention

The best way to prevent a vole infestation is to make your yard less attractive to them. Nesting sites for voles are typically at the base of trees or shrubs, in mulch or in-ground cover. These sites can be removed by trimming back vegetation and removing mulch and ground cover. 

Voles often search for areas that have food sources, such as nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Remove these food sources by cleaning up fallen fruit and debris from your yard regularly 

Finally, keep vole populations low by regularly mowing your lawn, and removing weeds and brush from your property.

Damage Repair

If you were not able to prevent vole damage, there are several different ways that you can work on bringing your yard back to life. 

How to Repair Damage

  • Spring Power Raking: A spring power rake will remove any dead debris and thatch from your lawn and improve the drainage to make it easier for new grass to grow. 
  • Reseed: Occasionally, after vole damage, you may need to reseed bare patches of grass; this seed will eventually fill in the bare spots and make the damage unnoticeable. 
  • Apply a Fertilizer Program: A fertilizer program is a crucial part of growing a luscious and healthy lawn, especially after vole damage. Weller Brothers always recommends a minimum of 5-step fertilizer and weed control program. 
  • Fall Aeration: Near the fall season, hopefully, your lawn has recovered from the vole damage; however, if it has not, the best way to jump-start growth the following spring is to aerate your lawn. Aeration helps the grassroots expand and strengthen themselves before winter, when the voles are most likely to strike again.
vole damage in a Sioux Falls lawn

Vole Control

Once you have prevented and repaired the vole infestation, the next step is to get rid of the voles for good. Weller Brothers offers a variety of different pest control options in Sioux Falls, SD, and voles just happens to be one of them. 

Weller Brothers recommends using bait station traps to trap and remove voles from your property. While removing the voles from your property, you will want to set the traps in an area that is frequently trafficked by the voles and check the traps often to clear out the traps and replace the bait.

Contact Us For Vole Control in Sioux Falls

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, have the experience and equipment to properly and safely manage your vole infestation at your property.

Lawn Dethatching: Does My Lawn Need It?

Maintenance crew power raking a yard

Lawn Dethatching: Does My Lawn Need It?

Spring is here, and that means spring cleaning is in full swing! Don’t forget to include your lawn on your to-do list by dethatching the buildup from the winter. 

Your lawn is a significant investment that you will make for your home and neighborhood. Knowing how to take care of it so that it continues to thrive year after year will be crucial. One of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy lawn is to schedule a dethatching service.

The professionals at Weller Brothers are ready to spring into the details of what lawn dethatching is and why it will be beneficial for your yard!

Spring Power Raking in Sioux Falls, SD

What is Dethatching?

Dethatching is also very commonly known as “power raking.”  The purpose of this service is to remove thatch buildup in your yard. Thatch is a layer of dead and living organic matter that accumulates on the surface of soil. Thatch can consist of grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and other debris. 

Thatch buildup can prevent water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil and roots, making your grass more susceptible to disease and pests. 

Traditionally, detaching is done each spring. However, it can also be alternated every other year with a fall aeration to improve drainage and help the roots grow deeper in your lawn.

Maintenance Tech pulling out thatch from a Spring Power Rake

Weller Brothers maintenance technician clearing out thatch buildup from their power rake. 

When to Dethatch Your Lawn

The recommended and best time to dethatch your lawn is in the early spring, when the grass is starting to grow from the cold season. Dehatching in the spring will help give your lawn a head start on the growing season.

When dehatching your lawn in the spring, this also allows for lawn care programs, including fertilizer and weed control, to be able to work more effectively and efficiently. Weller Brothers commonly utilizes a 5-step fertilizer and weed control program. The first step is key to a green and lush lawn, as it includes pre-emergent for crabgrass and granular fertilizer.

Contact Us For Power Raking in Sioux Falls or Rochester

The lawn care professionals at Weller Brothers in Sioux Falls, SD, and Rochester, MN, have the experience and equipment to properly power rake or dethatch your lawn this spring.

Three Big Promotions in the Rochester, MN, Lawn Care World

Rochester, MN, Lawn Care Professionals

Three Promotions on Rochester Lawn Care Team

Another day at Weller Brothers, another big promotion.

Scratch that – three promotions in Rochester, Minnesota!

We are excited to share that Nino Medar and Ryan Derleth have been promoted to Maintenance Account Managers, while Kirk Olson is now our Minnesota Branch Manager.

At Weller Brothers, our employees’ ambition for individual growth and opportunity is the driving force behind our overall company growth. These three employees making moves in Rochester are the perfect example.

Read on to get to know each employee and how they contribute to creating the healthiest lawns for our Rochester clients.

Kirk Olson – Rochester Branch Manager

Kirk Olson laughs during a team meeting at a Rochester, MN, landscaping company

Like many people, Kirk went to college for an entirely different industry than what he’s doing now. After graduating from Northern Iowa with a degree in criminology, he spent a year working inside a detention center in Colorado.

“I hated it,” Kirk says.

Discovering a Love For Lawns

For a change of pace, he found a job with a local landscaping company as a laborer and quickly found a new love for working outdoors. He quickly moved up into a foreman position, and eventually into a project manager role before moving back to the midwest and taking a position doing grounds maintenance at the Mayo Clinic historic properties.

“I loved working with annuals, perennials, and different types of trees,” Kirk says. “During my ten years at Mayo, I gained a lot of knowledge about turf and plant health.”

Eventually, Kirk was ready for a new challenge in the Rochester landscaping industry. He came across Weller Brothers online and reached out to the team.

“I was impressed by the work I saw on the website and thought, ‘Yeah, that’s who I want to work for.’”

Within a few months of being in touch with Brent Weller, Kirk came on board in a dual role as a maintenance and fertilizer technician, while also doing sales. By the summer of 2022, he had worked fully into an account management role.

Becoming the Rochester, MN Branch Manager

The thought of becoming the branch manager for the Weller Brothers Rochester, MN location hadn’t crossed Kirk’s mind until Brent and Cole Weller approached him about the opportunity. 

With Brent moving his family back to Sioux Falls in January 2024 and stepping into a regional management role (overseeing the Rochester and Des Moines locations) there was a need for someone to handle the day-to-day operations locally in Rochester.

“This is something I wasn’t expecting,” Kirk says. “They [Brent and Cole] said they have confidence in my leadership skills and thought I would be a good fit for the position.”

Brent points to Kirk’s natural leadership abilities as key to having earned respect from both his clients and colleagues alike. 

“Something that has stood out to me the past three years is Kirk’s ability to remain humble, while also inspiring and empowering his teammates,” Brent says. “He brings out the best in those around him, which was one of the primary characteristics we were looking for in a candidate for this position.”

Brent adds that Weller Brothers clients enjoy Kirk as much as the team does.

“Clients who have experienced Kirk’s professionalism firsthand often joke with me that they are going to hire him away from Weller Brothers.”

Despite these positive sentiments toward Kirk, he says that he still didn’t feel 100% confident in taking this new role, but both the Weller Brothers leadership team and his wife encouraged him to jump at the opportunity

“My wife was my biggest cheerleader and pushed me into this,” Kirk explains. “A few years ago, I went back to school for project management. She asked me, ‘Why did you go back to school if not to jump into something like this?’ She was right.”

Kirk Olson, Weller Brothers Landscaping

Looking Forward to Team Management

While Kirk’s new role as branch manager will have some overlap with his previous account management position – such as networking and business development – he will now be more involved in production and financials.

“I’ll be working on the business more instead of on the business; seeing what I can do from a high level,” Kirk says. “I’ll shift my focus to the profit margins for the entire branch vs. for a certain department, like I did before.”

Kirk says he is most excited about managing personnel in Rochester.

“I hope to have more time to be in touch with our team every day,” he says. “As a full-time account manager, I was busy most days meeting with clients and working on proposals. Now, I think I’ll be able to touch base with the team and make sure things are going well for them.”

Kirk adds that his goal is to keep building the culture that is already in place so that they can keep it alive as the team continues to grow.

When Kirk isn’t on the job, you can likely catch him around town coaching his kids’ sports or enjoying weekends outdoors with his family.

Congratulations, Kirk!

Nino Medar – Rochester Account Manager

Nino Medar, Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals

Despite having an experienced and professional team in Rochester, one thing that has been lacking in the office is someone who could “be a bit loud” and “get people fired up.”

Enter Nino.

Nino initially joined the team as a landscape technician and was on track to complete our proprietary Foreman Fast Track program. However, his experience in sales – paired with his energy – made him a great fit to move into a Maintenance Account Management position instead.

“I have worked in the construction industry since my early 20’s,” Nino says. “I’ve transitioned into different roles in other companies throughout the years, but fate always brings me back to my true passion – landscaping.”

A Love For the Job

Nino came to Weller Brothers through the encouragement of a coworker James, who he met through his son’s school. He says that having a simple conversation and seeing his excitement about work was enough for him to seek employment at Weller Brothers.

He says he can’t pinpoint just one “favorite part of his job.” He names the quality of craftsmanship, the teamwork he experiences at work, and the feeling of accomplishment in seeing a satisfied client.

When Nino isn’t on the job, he’s on the basketball court or cheering on his four children in sports.

Great work, Nino!

Ryan Derleth – Rochester Account Manager

Ryan Derleth, Weller Brothers Landscaping

“He has experience in pretty much anything landscape maintenance-related.”

That’s what Kirk has to say about Ryan, who started with Weller Brothers as a Turf Specialist in November 2022.

Ryan brings nearly 20 years of experience in the landscape industry, having started right out of high school and gaining a horticulture degree. He took a short break to explore the retail world, but quickly found himself back in the green industry. 

“I started working for Weller Brothers because I was looking for a change within the industry,” Ryan says. After sitting down with Brent Weller to learn about the company, I knew this would be the place for me.”

“An Easy Decision”

Nino certainly fits right in here, and we are grateful for his well-rounded skillset. Ryan is both a licensed fertilizer application and an experienced irrigation technician. He has experience in mowing and horticulture, as well as in production management and sales.

“This was an easy decision [to move Ryan into the account management role] due to his experience, knowledge, and sales record,” Kirk says. “He has in-depth knowledge of our lawn care services and how they can help our clients.”

He will certainly be an asset to our Rochester clients, as he says that his favorite thing about his job is interacting with clients and coworkers.

When Ryan isn’t outside on your lawn, he’s likely outside somewhere enjoying time with his family.

Welcome to the sales team, Ryan!

Learn More About Careers at Weller Brothers

Our team is constantly growing. As we create positions and promote employees from within, we are always looking to fill roles with talented, team-oriented people.

If you’re interested in a lawn or landscape job in Rochester, MN, Des Moines, IA, or Sioux Falls, SD, you’re in the right place!