Nursery and garden industry

The Northern Territory (NT) nursery and garden industry includes wholesale and retail nursery businesses and manufacturers of potting mixtures.

Listed below are information sheets providing growing advice for nursery or garden businesses in the NT.

Growers and producers should be aware of pests and diseases that can affect their plants and industry. Read about pests and disease for more information.

Grower advice

Nursery and garden business operators should grow plants suited to their conditions.

You must be aware of quarantine requirements and best practice for hygiene and pest and disease management.

Pots and potting media should be sterile, plants should be kept on gravel or benches to avoid contact with soil pathogens.

Monitor plants regularly for signs of pests and diseases.

Read the information sheets below for information and advice on a range of subjects affecting the nursery and garden industries:

Pest and disease management

Insect pests

To identify an insect pest and the damage it can cause go to the NT Insects Database.

Read the information sheets below about specific insect pests:

Diseases

Myrtle rust is a fungal disease that infects plants in the Myrtaceae family, which includes Australian natives such as:

  • bottle brush
  • tea tree
  • eucalypts.

First detected in NSW in 2010, the disease quickly spread across the eastern Australian landscape in:

  • bushland reserves
  • home gardens
  • commercial operations and
  • amenity settings such as:
    • parks and street plantings.

Myrtle rust can now be found in:

  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • Queensland
  • Tasmania
  • Northern Territory.

Myrtle rust pores are very easily dispersed by wind, so eradication is not feasible, and efforts are now focused on management.

Myrtle rust is a problem for commercial nurseries, as it can lead to seedling death and increased management costs.

For further information read:

Research result

Search the department's online publication library to find nursery products research.

General information

To read a range of general horticulture advice and information, go to general advice for fruit and vegetable growers.

Licensing and accreditation

If you are starting up a new plant nursery in the NT, the Australian Business Licence Information Service can provide you with details of all licences you might need to operate your business.

This includes commonwealth and local government requirements. The service is provided free of charge.

For more information, go to the Australian Business Licence Information Service website.

The NIASA or the Nursery Accreditation Scheme Australia, is a voluntary set of nationally recognised standards for nursery and potting media businesses. The scheme recognises best practice and professionalism, the names of those businesses with NIASA accreditation can be found in the trade register.

Moving plant products interstate or overseas

There are strict rules about moving plants and their products between states and countries, including:

  • fruit
  • vegetables
  • flowers.

These rules control:

  • what you can move
  • where you can send it to
  • if it needs to be treated or inspected before it leaves the NT.

Plant Biosecurity handles the Interstate Certification Assurance scheme.

The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources oversees the export of food, plant and plant materials to other countries.

For more information go to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

Industry associations

For information about the plant nursery industry visit the Greenlife Industry Australia and NT Farmers website.

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