Managing Pests and Diseases: A Handbook for New Zealand Gardeners is a completely revised edition of Rob Lucas's successful publication What's That Pest? It provides New Zealand's horticulturalists and gardeners with a simple, comprehensive, easily-used reference guide to pest identification and control. The photographic content has been significantly increased to aid identification, and much of the text has been updated, with several new sections added.

The book covers the many garden and nursery production pests of bedding plants, houseplants, vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental trees and shrubs, including natives, as well as the disease-causing pathogens, fungi, bacteria and viruses. It includes examples of beneficials (predators and parasites of pests) and where appropriate, more examples of pest and disease symptoms.

Rob Lucas actively promotes a holistic approach to pest control and stresses appropriate alternatives to pesticides where these are available and feasible. To develop this further he has included a new section that sets out the key principles and controls appropriate to organic growing.

Managing Pests and Diseases is an essential reference book for all home gardeners, horticultural students, growers and garden centre staff.