Gosh, it seems there's huge ecological restoration needed in your neighbourhood, blckrose. You've certainly described an environmental disaster zone of monumentous proportions. All of those factors you mention have had enormous negative impacts on native wildlife thereby causing many people to reach for the sprays because natural controls are no longer present. As you would be aware, Noisy Miners have proliferated because of the massive clearance of native understorey thereby creating their preferred open woodland conditions. You might also be aware that a number of communities are now conducting Indian Mynah eradication programmes in order to encourage the return of native woodland birds, many species of which are threatened but provide wonderful environmental services such as control of insect pests if given the chance. Cat controls are also slowly gathering pace but, of course, much more is needed if we are to have a cat-free, native wildlife restoration culture in Australia. So if we are to reduce the impact & cost of sprays in our environment then the issue needs to be tackled on a very broad, multi-pronged front, as you are perhaps implying, blckrose.

If you're looking for a lilly-pilly/ syzygium of no more than medium height, you couldn't go past Acmena smithii minor 'cherry surprise', which is a particularly lovely one to 2 to 3 metres. It's an attractive deep green in colour, with pink to red tips. Another lovely one, though perhaps not as hardy, is Acmena variegata, which grows to 3 metres. Nice, natural shape, dense in leaf. There' also a number of syzygiums worth considering, just make sure they are psysilid resistant. In fact there is one on the market named 'Resilence'. Worth a try. B

I'm sorry I really can't tell what's happening with those patches on the leaves. Salt build-up? insect eggs? My first suggestion is to take all the pics and some leaf samples back to where you bought the plants, and see what they can suggest. It may just be transplant shock. Maybe the location of the tubs is more exposed than where they were kept, and they are struggling to harden off. I can't really tell what the material of the planters is... if concrete there'd be some possible leaching? Maybe just the narrow pots and exposure is too hot? Could be over or under watering, too much fertilizing, probs with the potting mix. suggest you take some samples of all, including the potting mix brand, back for help from the providers.

Hi! I am in need of some advice for my neglected Lilly pilly hedge. It is currently very holely and thin on the bottom, with many gaps as in pictures provided. I have already taken off atleast 30cm on top, and on sides. However, I’m wondering if anyone would advise to take more off the top which would allow further new growth below, say another third off current height? It already has new growth coming through in lower half. Additionally, it has white wax scale and new growth being eaten by a green grub I have seen, most likely from the Lilly pilly beetle from what I’ve read. What is the best bet to rid of these nasties? Cheers!