ORCHARD : A lunar node falls today, making this an unfavourable day — but the orchard still has plenty to offer the attentive gardener. Walk the rows and clear any fallen fruit left on the ground; rotting windfalls harbour fungal spores that carry over into next season. Rake up and compost healthy leaf litter, but set aside any diseased leaves for the bin rather than the heap. Check tree ties on young apple, pear, cherry and plum trees — autumn winds can work them loose and cause bark damage. Sharpen your pruning saw and loppers now, so they’re ready when winter pruning begins. A good layer of well-rotted compost around the base of quince, hazel and walnut trees will protect shallow roots from frost and feed the soil as it breaks down.
LANDSCAPING : Autumn’s slower pace suits a tidy-up around ornamental plantings. Cut back any frost-blackened dahlia stems to ground level and mulch the crowns with a generous 10 cm layer of straw or bark to shield the tubers through cold spells. Hydrangea spent flowerheads can stay on a little longer — they offer some frost protection to the new buds beneath — but remove any dead or crossing stems. Lay a bark mulch around rhododendron and camellia roots, keeping it clear of the stem; these shallow-rooted shrubs appreciate the insulation as temperatures dip. Take a moment to sketch out next spring’s bulb plan and note which spots would suit daffodils, tulips and hyacinths before the ground hardens.