VEGETABLE PATCH : Leaf day today — a good moment to transplant leafy crops started under cover. Move leek seedlings into their final bed, setting them 12 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide; drop each plant into a dibber hole and water in without backfilling, letting soil settle naturally. Lettuce transplants can go out too, spaced 25 cm in the row with rows 30 cm apart — firm the soil gently at the base of each crown. In sandy soils, mix in a little compost before planting to help retain moisture through July’s dry spells.
LANDSCAPING : Hoe lightly around the base of your hydrangea, then apply a 5 cm mulch of wood chips to keep roots cool and reduce watering needs. Wisteria summer pruning is worth finishing now if any long lateral shoots remain: shorten them to five or six leaves from the base. Add a shovelful of compost to the clematis root zone to support strong foliage through the rest of summer.