VEGETABLE PATCH : Today a descending node passes through the garden — a natural pause that calls for care over cultivation. Turn your attention to weeding between rows of artichoke and strawberry plants, clearing out competition before summer heat sets in / pull weeds by hand close to stems to avoid disturbing shallow roots / apply a 5 cm layer of organic mulch around strawberry crowns to lock in moisture and keep fruit clean. If you have a garden journal, note which beds need feeding and sketch out your summer succession plan.
LANDSCAPING : Roses, hydrangeas and lavender all appreciate a tidy-up today rather than anything more intrusive. Deadhead roses by cutting cleanly just above a healthy five-leaflet leaf / check hydrangea stems for any crossing or damaged growth and remove it at the base / rake fallen petals and debris from beneath lavender clumps to discourage fungal damp. Wisteria ties worth checking too — summer growth can loosen them quickly. On heavy soils, a light top-dressing of compost around the base of rhododendron and camellia now feeds roots gently without disturbing them.
ORCHARD : Raspberry canes that have finished their first flush can be assessed and tied back neatly to their supports. Check grapevine foliage for early signs of mildew — good air circulation between canes is your best defence / water fig trees and lemon trees in pots deeply at the base, letting water soak down rather than splash the leaves. Late evening, the moon shifts toward a fruit day — a fine moment to plan tomorrow’s harvesting and note which fruits are swelling well on cherry or plum branches.