Nematodes

Root-lesion nematodes and their relatives have been extensively documented as production problems in California's fruit and ornamental nurseries, but research on their impact in the Pacific Northwest is sparse. Sandy soils particularly favor these microscopic roundworms, allowing injury at lower population densities than siltier or clay soils would. Most affected plants show subtle stunting or gradual decline rather than dramatic symptoms, making diagnosis easy to overlook.

While these pests have not yet become a major documented concern in Western Washington, understanding them now matters for nursery operations and wholesale growers considering expanded production. Host ranges are frustratingly broad across fruit crops, ornamentals, and herbaceous plants, which means crop rotation alone rarely solves the problem if nematodes become established. Monitor carefully if you're moving plant material from warmer regions or working with soil from high-risk areas.