ORCHARD : Bare-root fruit trees settle in beautifully on a fruit day under the waxing crescent. Dig a hole twice the root spread, work in a bucketful of well-rotted compost, and stake firmly. Apple and pear trees planted now establish quietly over winter; quince trees appreciate a sunny, sheltered spot with a compost mulch at the base. Walnut trees go in as specimens — choose the position carefully, as they resent disturbance later.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Broad beans sown 5 cm deep, seeds 10 cm apart in deep modules under cover, will build strong roots before planting out in rows 40 cm wide. Peas sown 3 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, will push through quickly in a polytunnel or mild garden.
LANDSCAPING : Tulip bulbs still waiting should go in without delay — 15 cm deep, 10 cm apart, in well-drained ground. Daffodils follow at 15 cm depth; layering both at different levels in the same spot is a neat trick for extended spring colour.