VEGETABLE PATCH : A full root day from morning to night — the garden is practically asking you to work the soil. Sow parsnip directly in a well-loosened bed, 1 cm deep with seeds 3 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide; parsnip needs a long season, so getting it in now gives roots time to develop their characteristic sweetness before autumn. Follow with fennel, sown at 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart in rows 40 cm — it doubles as a flavourful harvest and a companion that deters aphids. In heavier soils, loosen between rows with a hand fork before sowing to avoid compaction.
ORCHARD : Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting can be cut to the ground now, leaving only the young green canes for next year — a clean cut at soil level keeps the row tidy and well-ventilated. Pinch back kiwi side shoots to two leaves beyond the last fruit to concentrate energy into swelling rather than foliage.
LANDSCAPING : Wisteria summer pruning is timely: cut back the long whippy shoots to five or six leaves from the main framework. This channels sap into the flower buds forming for next spring and keeps the plant from overwhelming its support.