Reduce the spread of myrtle rust on your property

Rusts are highly transportable because they can produce large numbers of very small spores.

Myrtle rust can be dispersed by:

• movement of infected plant material (nursery stock, cut flowers, plant cuttings, germplasm)
• movement of contaminated equipment (secateurs, chainsaws)
• wind, water (wind-driven rain, irrigation) and gravity
• animals and insects, including bees, birds, other wildlife and pets
• humans (on clothing – Figure 1, shoes and jewellery)
• vehicles.

Myrtle rust can naturally spread to your property as it becomes established, but there are steps that you can take to help reduce the spread of the disease.

Buy healthy plants

Make sure myrtaceous plants bought for your garden are free from the symptoms of myrtle rust.

Inspect the foliage and stems of myrtaceous plants before you buy them

Avoid purchasing plants that have signs of disease.

See Myrtle rust host plants and symptoms.

Clean your equipment

Always clean your gardening tools and gloves with detergent and water (or a disinfectant such as a benzalkonium chloride compound) after use. This is especially important if you have used the tools on another property. For ease of cleaning, use tools that don't have wooden or cracked handles.

Wipe electronic items, such as mobile phones and GPS units, with a disinfectant cloth, or use them in a plastic bag and wash or dispose of the bag before moving to another property.

Clean your clothes

If you have been to a nursery, park, bushland area or another garden, change your clothes, hats and footwear before going into your own garden.

Wash these items before wearing them into your garden. This will help avoid the potential transfer of myrtle rust spores from your clothes onto your plants.

Monitor your plants

Regularly inspect myrtaceous plants in your garden for signs of myrtle rust. Early detection in your garden will give you time to consider options for myrtle rust control on your property.

If myrtle rust does establish on your property, note which plants become the most severely affected, consider removing them and not replanting with these types of plants.