LANDSCAPING : Wisteria is still sending out long whippy shoots — cut them back now to five or six leaves from the base, keeping the framework clean and encouraging next year’s flower buds. Use sharp secateurs; a clean cut close to a node heals faster. Check clematis ties while you’re at it and ensure the base stays well shaded.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A flower day suits brassicas grown for their heads. Sow cauliflower and broccoli under cover in module trays, 1 cm deep with 3 cm between seeds — they’ll be planted out at 60 cm and 50 cm in the row once established. Cut zinnia and cosmos blooms at peak this morning; doing so encourages fresh stems rather than premature seed set.
ORCHARD : Pinch the growing tips of fig trees now to concentrate energy into swelling existing fruits rather than pushing new wood. Check the grapevine too — pinch lateral shoots two leaves beyond the last bunch to improve airflow and reduce mildew risk in the late-summer humidity.