VEGETABLE PATCH : Leaf day energy suits transplanting young leafy crops. Leek seedlings raised under cover are ready to go out at 12 cm apart in the row, rows 30 cm wide; drop each plant into a dibber hole and water in without backfilling. Lettuce plants can be set out at 25 cm in the row, rows 30 cm, in a spot with afternoon shade to slow bolting. Swiss chard transplants settle well at 35 cm in the row, rows 40 cm — a generous watering after planting helps them establish quickly.
LANDSCAPING : Hydrangeas in full summer growth welcome a layer of compost around the base, mulched over to hold moisture. Clematis foliage can be lightly trimmed where stems cross or congest — keep the main framework intact. Take softwood cuttings from rose shoots that have just flowered: two or three nodes, free-draining compost, a bright spot out of direct sun.
ORCHARD : Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting can be cut to the ground now to give new canes light and air. Fig trees benefit from a compost mulch around the base, kept clear of the trunk, as summer heat intensifies.