VEGETABLE PATCH : A steady leaf day with the waxing crescent — good energy for getting leafy crops settled before autumn deepens. Transplant chicory seedlings 30 cm apart in rows 35 cm wide, firming soil well around each root. Swiss chard goes in at 35 cm spacing, rows 40 cm wide — broad leaves will keep coming as temperatures drop. Tuck sorrel plants 25 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide in a sheltered corner. Finish with a 4–5 cm layer of compost between rows to insulate roots through autumn rains.
LANDSCAPING : Check hedges for straggly late growth and trim lightly — box responds well to a tidy pass now. Mulch the base of rhododendrons and camellias with 6–8 cm of pine bark to protect shallow roots and maintain the acid conditions they need. Hydrangeas benefit from a top-dress of ericaceous compost around their crowns before the ground cools further.