LANDSCAPING : The waxing moon paired with a flower day makes this a rewarding stretch for ornamental work. Bare-root roses are worth planting now — dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots fully, work in a generous handful of well-rotted compost, and set the graft union at soil level. Space climbing roses 2 m apart along a fence or wall. Peonies are another excellent autumn planting: settle the buds just 3 cm below the surface — any deeper and they sulk for years without flowering. Camellias and rhododendrons thrive when given ericaceous compost and a permanent mulch of pine bark to keep their shallow roots cool and moist. Hellebores, planted now in light shade with moisture-retentive soil, will reward you with flowers from midwinter onward. Cut any remaining chrysanthemum blooms for the vase — they last well when stems are cut at an angle and placed in fresh water immediately.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Before the sign change this evening, a flower day also favours artichoke care — clear away dead foliage from established crowns and tuck a generous layer of straw around the base to protect the collar through frost. Pansy seedlings raised under cover can be pricked out into individual modules, 20 cm spacing planned for when they go out in spring.
ORCHARD : Once evening arrives and the moon shifts into its leaf phase, turn attention to structural planting. Hazel and quince trees planted bare-root now settle in beautifully before the hardest frosts — spread roots wide, backfill with the original soil, and firm gently. A 7–8 cm mulch of wood chip at the base insulates roots and suppresses competing weeds through winter. In mild zones, an olive tree or lemon tree overwintering under glass needs minimal watering: let the compost dry slightly between sessions to prevent root rot.