GILBA SOLUTIONS TURF BLOG
sports turf consultants
The Gilba Solutions Turf blog is written by our Head Agronomist Jerry Spencer. It covers a range of turfgrass science, and lawn care topics. As independent Sydney based turf agronomists and sports turf consultants we love the science behind turfgrass.
Turfgrass science.
Turfgrass Science is the study of grasses, soils, water and pests, in order to produce the best quality turf surfaces. The Gilba turf blog covers:
- Regulate 200 PGR for ornamentals and Poa management.
- Grass seed for oversowing couch.
- 2024 Research into Soil wetting agents.
- Insecticide resistance.
- How too Identify and control scarab beetles.
- Why all granular gypsum products don’t give the same results.
- The impact of Climate Change on weed control.
- Adding value to your home.
- Urease Inhibitors.
- Nitrification Inhibitors.
- How turf fungicides increase thatch.
- Potassium Fertilizers.
- How water quality impacts on ethephon plant growth regulator.
- Biostimulants. Part 2 of our blog on their use in turfgrass.
- The 2024 IGFH Turf Pesticides Manual.
- Slow release fertilizer options for turfgrass.
- What factors affect herbicide performance?
- How to use pre-emergent herbicides.
- Spray adjuvants. How these can save you money and give better results.
- Overseeding and transition of turfgrass.
- The role of light in getting the best possible turf growth.
- Turf pigments.
- How to manage turf in shade.
- Magnesium fertilizers.
- Lawn fungicides.
- Generic vs branded turf chemicals.
- The Science of soil aeration.
Weed profiles.
- 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.
Case Studies.
We also have a Case Study Section that may be of interest that covers topics such as dealing with blue green algae or when to aerate sports turf.
Recent Blogs.
Aquatic Weed & Algae Control for Dams
Why Aquatic Weeds and Algae Take Over Dams Aquatic weeds and algae in irrigation dams are managed through an integrated program: identify the cause...
Traffic stress on sports turf
Traffic stress on sports turf is not one problem but three: wear, compaction, and soil displacement. Wear is the immediate injury to the plant from...
Sodium in Turf Soils
Sodium damage in turf soils takes two distinct forms: direct ion toxicity to the plant, and structural dispersion of the soil itself. The two...
Cation Exchange Capacity in Turf Soils
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) measures how many positively-charged nutrient ions a soil can hold on its negatively-charged surfaces. It is reported...
MLSN Interpretation for Australian Turf
MLSN interpretation is a method for reading turf soil test results against minimum thresholds rather than ideal ratios. Developed in 2012 by Micah...
SAR and Irrigation Water
Raw sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on its own underestimates the dispersion risk of an irrigation water source by 20 to 40 percent when bicarbonate...
Magnesium Soil Dispersion in Turf: Why Dolomite Isn’t the Answer
When the "magnesium fix" makes your soil worse: dispersion, dolomite, and what reps keep getting wrong There's a recurring pattern in turf advisory...
The Hormuz Fertiliser Crisis
The 2026 Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure are triggering a fertiliser crisis. This is having direct impacts on Australian agriculture,...
Mycorrhiza in a bottle
Mycorrhizae in a Bottle. Can Liquid Organic Fertilisers Really Deliver VAM to Your Golf Greens? It sounds good. But does the biology...
organic fertilisers and turfgrass
The Hidden Costs of Organic Fertilisers in Turfgrass The turf industry is under more and more pressure to use organic fertilisers and products. With...
Principal agronomist, Gilba Solutions Pty Ltd
BSc Hons Soil Science (Newcastle). Former STRI agronomist. Author of Nutrition of Sports Turf in Australia (CSIRO/Landlinks Press). 35+ years advising on sports turf, golf and stadia across Australia, NZ, UK and Europe.