Rhodo and other plant disease problems...

Hello everyone

Can someone please tell me what the problem is with disease that is currently being touted by garden shops and professional gardeners within the Pacific Northwest - this has to do with plant disease originating from California and working its way north. Results in retailers saying they are not able to purchase and or distribute rhodo plants among a wide variety of perennial plant stock... and this very pervasive disease prevents garden shops from reusing plastic trays and containers. I Googled but couldn't find any threads or links.

 

Sudden Oak Death or Phytophthora ramorum

 

Wow Hope this is not something destined for these parts. I am so proud of my pin oak up the paddock. Most country towns have a memorial row of Oaks or Elms.
I often wonder how the Elm leaf beetle and the the other thing that attacks Elms got into Australia. We have so many avenues of beautiful old Elms. In a matter of years it was all over the state. Given our very strict quarantine regulations how would this have got through. On timber ????. How long has the beetle been in America or has it always been there?

Liz