LANDSCAPING : Bare-root planting season is well underway — roses, raspberries, and currant bushes are all good candidates right now. Dig a generous hole, work in a handful of well-rotted compost, and set bare-root roses with the graft union just at soil level. Space currant bushes and blackcurrants 1.2 m apart. Finish planting tulip bulbs at 15 cm deep, 10 cm apart, before the ground hardens — a light mulch of leaf mould on top will protect them through cold spells.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A flower day suits cauliflower and broccoli well. Sow under cover in modules, 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, in a cool but frost-free space. These brassicas germinate reliably even in low autumn light. Check that fleece tunnels are properly anchored; a loose edge lets cold air pool at plant level overnight.
ORCHARD : Autumn is the right window for planting apple, pear, quince, cherry, and plum trees as bare-root stock arrives in nurseries. Set roots wide in the planting hole and firm soil in layers to avoid air pockets. Stake at a low angle to allow some trunk flex, which encourages stronger wood.