ORCHARD : A descending node day calls for a pause on active garden work — turn your attention instead to the orchard’s long-term health. Walk the rows and check tree ties on apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees: loosen anything cutting into bark before winter thickening makes it worse. Spread a generous layer of well-rotted compost around the base of quince, walnut, and hazel, keeping it clear of the trunk by a hand’s width to avoid collar rot. This slow-release feed will work quietly into the soil over winter. In Mediterranean climates, fig trees benefit from a light mulch of straw now to protect surface roots from occasional cold snaps.
LANDSCAPING : Grab your sharpening stone and give secateurs and loppers a proper edge — clean, sharp blades mean cleaner cuts and healthier plants all season. While you’re at it, wipe blades with an oily cloth to prevent rust over the damp autumn months. Check the base of rose bushes and clematis for accumulated leaf litter that can harbour fungal spores; rake it away and add it to a hot compost heap rather than leaving it in place. Hydrangea and rhododendron beds will thank you for a fresh mulch of bark chips now — it locks in residual soil warmth and suppresses winter weeds in one go.
INDOORS : Oleander and lemon trees still outside in northern regions should be assessed today: check leaves for scale insects before bringing them under cover, and wipe stems with a damp cloth if you spot any stickiness. A frost-free greenhouse or cool conservatory kept above 5 °C will see them through to spring without fuss.