VEGETABLE PATCH : Spinach transplants settle in beautifully on a leaf day under a waning gibbous moon — set them out at 8 cm in the row, rows 30 cm wide, and firm the soil gently around each plant. Chervil and coriander are worth planting out too: chervil at 10 cm in the row, rows 25 cm; coriander at 15 cm in the row, rows 30 cm. Both herbs appreciate a little shade in the midday heat of late May, so tuck them near taller crops. Finish by hoeing between rows to cut off surface weeds before they compete for moisture.
LANDSCAPING : Box hedges are ready for their May trim — run the shears along the sides first, then the top, and collect the clippings so they don’t smother the base. If you have a hydrangea that’s grown a little shapeless, light foliage trimming now tidies the outline without harming the buds. Spread a generous layer of compost around the base of clematis and wisteria, 5–8 cm deep, keeping it clear of the stems; a well-mulched root zone holds moisture through dry spells and feeds the plant steadily.