ORCHARD : Waxing gibbous on a fruit day — a good moment to harvest and collect seeds from this year’s best performers. Twist apple and pear fruits gently at the stalk; clean separation means the fruit is ready and will store well. Lay them in a single layer in a cool, dark shed, keeping varieties separate. Quince turning a warm golden-yellow can be gathered now and brought indoors to develop their heady fragrance. Walnut husks splitting at the seam are ready — collect fallen nuts daily, rinse off the dark juice, and spread them out to dry for two weeks before storing. Chestnut husks beginning to open are worth checking under the trees each morning.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Strawberry runners still waiting in pots can go out now — set crowns exactly at soil level, 30 cm apart, in well-prepared ground with a little compost worked in. On heavier soils, raise the bed slightly to improve drainage and prevent crown rot over winter.
LANDSCAPING : Box hedges benefit from their September trim — use sharp shears, clear clippings promptly to limit box moth spread, and mulch the base with a thin layer of compost to feed roots heading into autumn.