VEGETABLE PATCH : Almost all day long, a leaf day keeps the focus firmly on leafy crops. Fennel transplants settle in well now — set them at 25 cm in the row, rows 40 cm apart, and water generously at the base. Corn salad and rocket can be thinned where they’ve grown crowded: corn salad to 5 cm, rocket to 10 cm, both in rows 20 cm wide. Mint divisions establish quickly at this stage — sink a physical root barrier when planting to keep the patch tidy for years ahead. In a Mediterranean climate or under a polytunnel, parsley transplants can go out too, thinned to 10 cm in the row, rows 25 cm apart; the soil should feel moist to the touch before you begin.
LANDSCAPING : Hedges and foliage shrubs respond well today. Run your secateurs along box hedging with a light, confident hand — the dense growth at this time of year clips back cleanly and evens out quickly. Hydrangeas appreciate a generous mulch layer spread to the drip line right now; 5–8 cm of wood chip or composted bark will hold moisture through the heat ahead. Rhododendrons and camellias growing in acid soil benefit from a compost top-dressing applied around the base without disturbing the shallow roots.
ORCHARD : Kiwi shoots that have extended well beyond five or six leaves can be pinched back today — a quick summer pinch keeps the framework manageable and channels energy into the developing fruit. Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting can be cut to the ground cleanly; mulch the row immediately after to retain soil moisture.