VEGETABLE PATCH : Damp tools, cool hands — the early hours call for quiet, purposeful work among roots and foliage. Pull back any straw mulch around strawberry plants and check the crowns for signs of rot; replace the mulch once the soil surface has dried slightly. Raspberry canes that finished fruiting can be cut cleanly to the base with sharp secateurs, leaving the young green canes standing — this directs energy toward next season’s harvest. If your fig tree has dropped a few early fruits, gather them promptly to keep wasps and fungal spores away from the remaining crop.
LANDSCAPING : The afternoon shifts into a flower day — a fine moment to cut dahlias and zinnias for the vase, taking stems early in the evening when temperatures ease. Snip just above a leaf node with clean scissors and plunge stems immediately into cool water; they’ll last far longer. If you have hollyhocks that have finished blooming on the lower stem, collect the dry seed pods — seeds 3 cm apart is the spacing to aim for when you sow them next spring under cover, 1 cm deep. Cosmos growing in borders can be deadheaded now to encourage a fresh flush of blooms through August. In a Mediterranean climate, lavender benefits from a light trim right after the flowers fade — avoid cutting into old wood and the plant will stay compact and productive for years.