The International Day of Plant Health falls on 12 May, so in the lead up to this event next month, I thought it only fitting that we dedicate an issue to the theme of biosecurity.
Some of you may be attending the Plant Biosecurity Research Symposium at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne in May.… Continue reading
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Delegates at the International Horticultural Expo Conference on 9 March 2026 (Image: Ludovic Vilbert, Inwardout Studio)
By Gabrielle Stannus
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) 2026 Meeting, which took place from 8-12 March 2026, offered unique insights into the current challenges and opportunities for the global industry and provided in-depth knowledge of Australia’s ornamental horticulture sector.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Sean Cole
Every week or two somewhere in Australia, a new plant pest or disease is detected. Most growers never see those headlines directly, but the consequences travel fast: lost crops, halted plant movements, disrupted supply chains and extra costs.… Continue reading
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Celeste Cook undertaking a nursery walkthrough as part of the GrowConnex extension program (Image: Greenlife Industry Australia)
By Celeste Cook
Biosecurity often sounds like an industry-level issue. But inside a nursery, it usually comes down to much smaller things. Most nursery pest problems start with something small. Often it starts with a shipment of plants that does not look quite right that enters the production space.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Garden centre operators have many opportunities to improve merchandising and increase sales volumes. As practical demonstrations at the Garden Inspiration Group’s 2026 gathering in Melbourne showed, these improvements need not necessarily be costly.
The Garden Inspiration Group (GIG) invited key staff from independent garden centres to its annual function at The Manningham in Bulleen on 2 March 2026.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Siemon, Damian Wrigley, David Smith, Peter Scott, Brett Summerell, Matthew Laurence and Sarah Dunstan
Australia’s botanic gardens are more than tranquil retreats and essential hubs for conservation – they are frontline sentinels in the battle against invasive species, plant pathogens and the growing threats posed by global change.… Continue reading
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Dr Chris Brosnan and Dr Don Gardiner in the University of Queensland (UQ) laboratory (Image: Megan-Pope, UQ)
By Natalie MacGregor
University of Queensland (UQ) research has revealed that double-stranded RNA-based biopesticides (dsRNA) sprayed on plant leaves can travel right down into root systems. Led by Dr Chris Brosnan at UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the work also disproves a long-standing misconception that dsRNA directly enters plant cells.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Plants infected with myrtle rust are still specified and sold in humid and subtropical parts of Australia every day. Once established in the landscape, the results are unmistakable with plants showing yellow powdery lesions, purple pustules and distorted new growth.… Continue reading
Read MoreUsing practical technology to ease pressure in production nurseries
INTRODUCTION
Production nurseries are operating in an environment of sustained pressure. Labour shortages, rising input costs, increasing regulatory requirements and heightened biosecurity expectations have combined to make day-to-day management more complex than it was even a few years ago.… Continue reading
By John Corban
Since 2009, Phil Antcliff and Jack Hayes have operated Fifth Season Landscapes, a multi-award-winning residential landscape design, construction and maintenance business based on Sydney’s North Shore. In a recent online discussion with my coaching clients, Phil and Jack generously answered questions about how they have built and sustained their business.… Continue reading
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