LANDSCAPING : A pale winter light filters through bare branches — the descending Waning Crescent lends a quiet energy to ornamental work today, with the moon in a flower phase that favours blooms and above-ground beauty. Deadhead the last dried stems of rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida) and echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), cutting back to 10 cm from the base to protect the crown through frost / Divide and replant clumps of hellebore (Helleborus niger) now while the soil is still workable — space new divisions 40 cm apart in humus-rich, well-drained soil; they’ll reward you with flowers as early as January / Check winter-flowering jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) wall ties and trim any wayward shoots crossing the structure; a light tidy now prevents tangles come spring / In milder coastal gardens, pot up a few bare-root wallflowers (Erysimum cheiri) into 15 cm containers with gritty compost to overwinter under a cold frame for an early spring display.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Yesterday’s root work is behind us — the flower picto today nudges attention toward brassica flowers and overwintering plants that will bolt to bloom come spring. Check overwintering purple sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and remove any yellowing outer leaves at the base to improve airflow and reduce botrytis risk / Inspect calabrese (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) stored under fleece for signs of mildew; lift the covering for an hour mid-morning if conditions allow, to let moisture escape / Under a cold greenhouse or polytunnel, sow a pinch of rocket (Eruca vesicaria) and claytonia (Montia perfoliata) in module trays — these cold-tolerant leaves will germinate slowly but steadily through winter, giving fresh pickings by February / In heavy clay soils, lay a sheet of cardboard over bare beds to suppress weeds and protect soil structure until planting season returns.