Information for Nursery Professionals
Introduction
Phytophthora management
Phytophthora can cause substantial problems for nurseries because they are challenging to manage and some species are heavily regulated. Therefore, the aim of this webpage is to provide information and resources to help you keep Phytophthora ramorum and other diseases out of your nursery.
Here you will find information about Best Management Practices and resources produced specifically for managing plant pathogens in nurseries. Note that many of these practices can be applied to control or prevent the establishment of a variety of plant pathogens.
Resources
Brochures
Training modules
- Phytophthora Online Course: Training for Nursery Growers (OSU Professional and Continuing Education)
- Best Management Practices Online Tool (University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources Nursery and Floriculture Alliance)
Workshops
- Best Management Practices Workshop for Nurseries: Steam Sanitation and Disease Identification – February 2016
General information for nursery production
- Raising and Selling Ornamental Nursery Stock in Washington State by Charles Brun, WSU Extension publication EM102E
Critical Control Point Assessments
Production Visits
Contact us for a Critical Control Point Assessment. We can visit your production and provide recommendations for best management practices suited to your nursery or garden.
Management
Management of P. ramorum in nurseries
There are four Critical Control Points to prevent the entry of waterborne diseases such as Phytophthora and Pythium into your production:
By preventing or managing diseases at these points, you can minimize the damage and loss of product, and grow clean, healthy plants.
More information for managing Phytophthora
- “How to keep P. ramorum out of your nursery” brochure (pdf)
- An Overview of Systems-Based Pest Management for Nursery Production (University of Tennessee PB 1825)
- A Systems Approach for IPM: Critical Control Points (Jennifer Parke, Oregon State University)
- Desinfección de Suelos Y Sustratos Agrícolas (Gobierno Federal de Mexico, 2010)
- Oregon’s Grower Assisted Inspection Program (GAIP)
- Canadian P. ramorum Certification program
Best Management Practices
The below poster illustrates best management practices for preventing disease and pest problems in gardens and nurseries. It can be posted in a break room or other common area to educate workers, volunteers, and others.
We have provided the poster in English and Spanish versions. You can download the pdf for printing or contact Marianne Elliott to obtain the print version (24″ x 16.5″).
Additional Guides
Regulations
Visit our Regulations webpage for summaries of the State and Federal regulations concerning P. ramorum.

Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns.
WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center, 2606 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371-4998 USA
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