LANDSCAPING : A flower day runs through most of the afternoon — a fine stretch for planting out annuals and working on ornamental beds. Lavender transplants settle beautifully in well-drained, sunny spots right now; space them generously and firm the soil around each crown. Dahlia tubers or young plants can go in at 60 cm apart each way — choose a sunny, sheltered spot and they’ll reward you with colour well into autumn. Roses that have finished a flush of blooms can be lightly pruned: cut just above an outward-facing bud to encourage the next wave of flowers. Hollyhock seedlings are worth planting out at 40 cm in the row, rows 50 cm, against a warm wall.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Before the evening change, the flower day energy suits brassica transplants — cauliflower and broccoli seedlings started under cover can go out now. Set cauliflower at 60 cm in the row, rows 70 cm apart; broccoli at 50 cm in the row, rows 60 cm. Water each plant in well and lay a thin mulch around the stems to hold moisture. In Mediterranean gardens or on sandy soils, a light shade cloth over newly planted brassicas for the first few days eases the transition.
ORCHARD : After the evening sign change, leaf day conditions open a quieter window — good for adding compost around the base of fig trees, lemon trees in pots, or grapevines. Keep the mulch 10 cm clear of the trunk to avoid rot. Kiwi shoots can be pinched back to keep the plant tidy and direct energy into the fruit.