COMPANY PROFILE

Company profile

This Company profile for Gilba Solutions Pty Ltd outlines who we are and what we do. Gilba Solutions are Sydney based independent sports turf consultants. We are the Premier turfgrass agronomists in NSW and the ACT.

Our Head Office is in Bowral, NSW, between Canberra and Sydney. and only a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Sydney Airport.

Since 2013 we have had one philosophy. To meet our customer needs. and cut through the misinformation that exists in this industry. That’s why most of our business is from repeat clients and referrals. 

What is a turf agronomist?

A qualified turf agronomist has a University Degree in agricultural Science, Soil Science or Agronomy. Turfgrass agronomy considers all the factors that impact on turfgrass growth and its performance.

A turfgrass agronomist:

• Is informed in all turf grass varieties and cultivars, and how to manage them.
• Has good knowledge about the formulation, manufacture and use of turf fertilisers.
• Is able to identify turfgrass diseases and pests, and advise how to control them.
• Has an in depth understanding of soil physics and soil chemistry.

Our Head Agronomist, Jerry Spencer has over 35 years of experience in Australia and the UK. He has held managerial roles with companies such as: Arthur Yates, Samsung Australia, Paton Fertilizers and the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).  

Gilba Solutions are in a unique position to offer you the best independent agronomic advice. This includes:

• Turfgrass maintenance programmes.
• Turfgrass and turf seed selection.
• Turf chemical use.
• Turf fertiliser selection.
• Choosing and using the right soil wetting agent.
• Spray adjuvants.

We take immense pride in being the premier turfgrass agronomists in NSW by providing economical and practical solutions.

Company Profile – Examples of our work.

• A two year study into commercial soil wetting agents.
• Introducing the first LED turf light rigs for shade management into Australia. These have been at Comm Bank Stadium since 2021.
• Developing overseeding guidelines.
• Developing Vertmax Duo® the most advanced turfgrass pigment on the Australian market.
• Producing Insecticide, herbicide and Insecticide resistance Charts.
• A guide to scarab beetles in turf.

Company profile – Our History

The founder Jerry Spencer has a Hons Degree in Soil Science from Newcastle Upon Tyne University and a Grad Diploma in Marketing.

The cornerstone of our business is, and always will be the customer. Being able to provide innovative turf-specific solutions is something we feel we are uniquely able to achieve.

This approach has led to rapid growth. 

• 2019. Gilba Solutions launch the Omne Turf wifi system. Real time monitoring of PAR light, soil and air temperature, soil pH and has up to 200 different sensor configurations.
• 2020. Australasian agents for SeeGrow Developments, who manufacture the worlds most advanced LED turf grow lights and turf fans.
• 2022. Commenced exporting to NZ and the UK.
• We are proud sponsors of the IGFH 2024 Turf Pesticides manual.

Jerry Spencer has written over 100 articles and two books that have been published in the UK and Australia on topics ranging from:

• Turf fertilisers and aquatic weed management.
• Using turf pigments
• Why turf herbicides sometimes don’t work.

Gilba Solutions publish a turf blog. The most recent blogs:

• Discuss the impact of Climate Change on Weed Control.
• The science of soil aeration.
• How salicylic acid in plants can help with turf stress and
• How to use household items for DIY pest control.

We also have a Case Study section on this site that showcases some of our more recent projects.

Weed ID

Recently we developed weed ID and Info sheets. These include:

• Sowthistle.
• Horse Purslane.
• Bittercress.
• Painted Spurge.
• Stinkvine.
• Minnieroot.
• Amaranthus.
• Praxelis.
• Tridax Daisy.
• Blue Heliotrope.
• Oriental False Hawkweed.
• Pigweed.
• Mossman River Grass
• Petty Spurge.
• Swinecress
• Mouse Ear Chickweed
• Bitter Gourd
• Buchan Weed.
• Caltrop
• Capeweed
• Carrot Weed
• Catsear
• Cleavers.
• Cobblers Peg.
• Common Chickweed
• Creeping Charlie
• Creeping Mallow
• Creeping oxalis
• Cudweed
• Dandelion
• Dock.
• Fat Hen.
• Field Bindweed.
• Fleabane.
• Gazania
• Heal All
• Hydrocotyle.

Clients who have used our services as turf agronomists.

• Venues NSW.
• The NRL.
• Canberra Stadium.
• The ACT Government.
• Campbelltown Council.
• Twin Creeks G.C.
• Federal G.C.
• The Australian Institute of Sport.
• Sports Turf Management.
• Sydney University.
• Think Bio.
• Liverpool Council and
• Green Drop.

Some of our publications

Sports turf consultancy at Stadium Australia in 2020