ORCHARD : A fruit day under the waning crescent — the descending moon draws energy toward roots and wood, making this a fine moment for bare-root planting. Set out raspberry canes 50 cm apart in well-prepared rows; work a generous shovelful of compost into each hole before dropping the roots in. Currant bushes and blackcurrants go in now too, spaced 1.2 m apart — they’ll establish quietly over winter. Grapevines planted in autumn have a head start: loosen the subsoil, spread the roots wide, and backfill without compacting.
LANDSCAPING : Soft-fruit cuttings taken from blackcurrant stems today will root steadily through the cold months — cut 20–25 cm lengths just below a bud and push them two-thirds into gritty compost in a sheltered corner. Roses can go in bare-root from now on: dig a wide hole, mound the base, drape roots naturally, and firm well. Finish mulching the base of camellias and rhododendrons with a 5 cm layer of composted bark to protect their shallow roots from frost.