LANDSCAPING : A flower day under the waxing crescent — ornamental plants respond well to a little care right now. Bare-root roses can still go in the ground: dig a generous hole, work in some well-rotted compost, and settle the plant so the graft union sits just at soil level / Winter jasmine finishing its first flush benefits from having flowered shoots pruned back to a strong bud; tie in any loose stems to keep next season’s display tidy / Heather appreciates a light trim after flowering — avoid cutting into old wood, and top-dress the base with ericaceous compost to maintain the acid conditions it needs.
ORCHARD : Bare-root planting of apple and pear trees is still well within its window — choose a mild, frost-free day, spread the roots generously, and firm the soil in layers without leaving air pockets / Currant bushes and blackcurrants planted now at 1.2 m apart will establish quietly through the cold weeks ahead / Hazel can also go in this month: unfussy about soil as long as drainage is reasonable. In heavier ground, mound the planting spot slightly to lift roots above any waterlogged layer.