Improving turf quality

The main issue, especially during summer, is inconsistent watering caused by problems with the irrigation system or how it’s set up to work. The amount of water the turf receives should always be tested in the driest spots, not the most lush, and the irrigation schedule should be adjusted accordingly.

More details about this can be found in the irrigation section of this website. Remember, water is ineffective unless it can first reach and then be retained in the root zone.

Secondly, turf health will suffer if it can’t recover properly from the stress it encounters.

Whenever a turf area is used for its intended purpose—whether that involves students playing, a sporting club competing over the weekend, or an elite venue being hired for a wedding—there are always varying levels of stress on the turf. This stress is further compounded by how well we have prepared beforehand, by the soil health leading up to this demand and how effectively we can treat this stress after the event.

Therefore, being aware of budget considerations are a high priority.

A comprehensive turf management program can offset any level of use, and while this might not be necessary for rarely-used turf, there is a clear link between turf use and the level of management required.

In Perth, it’s not as common, but it’s definitely possible that we may see a turf area with a thorough management program in place involving regular mowing, effective irrigation practices, and consistent fertiliser applications, not responding. In these cases, we would examine the soil’s pH, which will be explained in another section of the website, as it influences the nutrients the soil can absorb.