Knob Hill Landscape Company has acquired Designer Landscapes, marking the second time the business has recently changed hands.
Patty Brockmeyer founded Designer Landscapes in 1985 and operated the Farmersville-based business for four decades before selling it in September to Bill Wells, who also owns Illinois Paving.
“Since then, he’s had some health issues and made the decision that it was too much for him to take on,” said Knob Hill owner Landon Kirby, who said he had never met Wells until he was approached about a possible sale.
“He knew of me and knew of our business – his attorney is someone I had worked with on a permitting issue for a job out at the lake,” Kirby said. “Bill sent me a text out of the blue about buying his business. We talked on the phone on a Friday afternoon, I met with him in Farmersville on Monday, and we had a deal by Tuesday afternoon last week.”
Knob Hill had already acquired another longtime landscaping business, Evergreen Landscape, in 2024. Knob Hill’s original location at 661 W. Camp Sangamo Road serves as the headquarters for operations and production, while Evergreen’s location at 4001 Old Jacksonville Road, now known as Knob Hill West, became the site of the outdoor living sales and design team.
While Kirby said another acquisition “was not on my to-do list,” he said Designer Landscape’s existing client list was a great compliment to Knob Hill’s business.
“Designer Landscapes primarily does soft installation and landscape maintenance, while Knob Hill predominantly does landscape construction. We just started our maintenance team this year,” Kirby said. “I looked at it as a great opportunity, because I was familiar with Patty and that business prior to Bill owning it – she did a great job and kept immaculate records.”
Kirby said he purchased Designer Landscape’s list of 2,000 clients but Wells is selling the Farmersville property and equipment separately. Meanwhile, Kirby is hiring additional staff and gearing up for a busier than usual season.
“This is about growth, but also about stewardship,” Kirby said. “We want to honor the trust Designer Landscapes has built over the years and make sure customers feel supported every step of the way.”
Knob Hill Landscape Company received Springfield Business Journal’s Best Places to Work award in 2025. The business was also voted best landscape company and best landscape designer in Illinois Times’ 2025 Best of Springfield.