Phosphorus levels, for example, need to be determined before you decide what to plant, as some Australian native species are sensitive to high levels of available phosphorus. Although some wildflower crops will tolerate saline soil conditions, problems with soil salinity will be compounded by the use of poor quality water and too much fertiliser. Biological activity Knowledge of previous land use on the farm is important to determine if there are any potential disease and pest problems that may limit the wildflower crop you can grow. Phytophthora root rot is perhaps the worst disease of wildflowers. Irrigation water may need to be treated to minimise the spread of Phytophthora .
Chlorination is the most common method.
Root-knot nematodes are another major problem, particularly if the area was previously planted to highly susceptible crops such as tomatoes and legumes and nematode numbers have built up. Get a soil test done for nematodes or conduct your own bioassay. Do this before you start any land preparation and before planting your crop. You can treat the soil with Nemacur for nematodes, but it is expensive and may not be very effective in the long term. Longicorn borer can be found at injurious levels in blocks surrounded by native vegetation or neglected former plantings.