VEGETABLE PATCH : Root day under a waning crescent — perfect timing for bulb planting before tomorrow’s new moon. Push garlic cloves 3 cm deep, tip pointing up, 12 cm apart in rows; firm the soil to eliminate air pockets. Shallot bulbs go in at soil level, 15 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide — they’ll anchor quietly through autumn and stir first come February.
LANDSCAPING : Tulip and hyacinth bulbs deserve a home before the soil cools further. Tulips need 15 cm depth, 10 cm apart; hyacinths go 12 cm deep in well-drained ground. A pinch of grit beneath each bulb prevents rot in heavier soils. Crocus bulbs can fill gaps at 8 cm depth — they’ll push through any late winter chill and reward you early.
ORCHARD : Walnut and hazel planted now settle in as the sap slows. Dig a generous hole, loosen the base, and plant at nursery depth without added fertiliser — both species prefer lean conditions. Mulch the base with 10 cm of wood chip, keeping it clear of the trunk collar.