Prevention is better than cure
Chemicals are the last resort, and home-made natural alternatives should be the second last resort because they, too, may upset the ecosystem.
Minimise the risk of introducing pests and diseases to your garden in the first place by buying plants, soil, potting mix and mulch from reputable sources.
Practice good hygiene by, for example, cleaning pruning tools before moving on to the next plant and removing and binning diseased plant parts.
Unfamiliar pests
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is on the lookout for animal and plant pests, diseases and weeds that could pose a threat to agriculture and the environment.
If you discover something unfamiliar please send a photo to the Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) by email: info@agric.wa.gov.au or phone them on Freecall: 1800 084 881.
Samples can be sent to the Pest and Disease Information Service, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, 6151.
Please read our article on sending specimens for identification before posting a specimen to our service.