ORCHARD : A fruit day with the moon descending — good conditions for planting and working around dormant trees / Bare-root apple trees and pear trees go in well now: dig a wide hole, loosen the base with a fork, and set the union 5 cm above soil level; backfill in stages, firming gently with your foot / Raspberry canes can go in 50 cm apart; a handful of compost in each planting hole gives roots something to explore straight away / Grapevines planted this month establish well before the sap rises — set them at the same depth as in the nursery and cut back to two or three strong buds.
LANDSCAPING : Bare-root roses planted now will have several weeks to settle before growth begins — open the hole wide, spread the roots without bending them, and water in thoroughly / Hydrangeas will appreciate having spent flower heads removed cleanly at the first pair of plump buds / Camellia in a sheltered border can be lightly shaped after its last flowers fade — avoid cutting into old wood and keep the soil moist with a permanent mulch of leaf mould.