Longicorn borer can be found at injurious levels in blocks surrounded by native vegetation or neglected former plantings. Control pests and diseases by the use of pathogen-tested planting stock, preplant assay, regular crop monitoring, cultural means and the strategic use of chemicals. Talk to a plant diagnostician about soil and water-borne diseases and testing procedures. Steeper slopes present a major erosion risk, make it difficult to operate machinery safely, can cause problems with irrigation flow and also make access for hand pruning and picking difficult. In high rainfall coastal areas, planting on slopes may improve surface runoff and help to reduce soil-borne disease problems.
Aspect refers to the direction a slope faces.
It influences temperature, plant growth and evenness of flower opening in wildflowers such as King Proteas. A warmer aspect is preferred to a cooler one. South-facing slopes are cooler in winter and face the prevailing winds in southern Queensland. West-facing slopes are the least suitable, as they are exposed to strong cold westerly winds in winter and are very hot in summer. Depending on your crop, aspect can be used to influence flowering time and delay or advance harvest time.