In neglected trees exotic pests and diseases, currently not found in Western Australia, may go undetected for some time and could develop into a major threat to the industry. Neglect can be destructive and lead to expensive control programs.
This information covers:
- duty of care of fruit and vine growers
- maintenance needed to avoid pest and disease build-up
- guidelines to remove unwanted fruit trees and vines
- pests and diseases commonly found in neglected fruit trees and grape vines.
Duty of care
Whether you own one fruit tree or vine, or an entire orchard or vineyard, you are responsible for its care and management.
Pests and diseases don’t respect boundaries and easily cross to neighbouring properties. This means that one neglected orchard or a backyard with poorly maintained trees can cause problems for all growers in a district.