VEGETABLE PATCH : Full Moon on a root day — a powerful combination for getting root crops settled into freshly worked beds. Plant shallot bulbs just at soil level, 15 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide; press each one in firmly so it stands upright without rocking. Garlic cloves go in 3 cm deep, tip pointing up, spaced 12 cm apart — choose a spot with good drainage to avoid rot as spring rains arrive. Potato tubers that have been chitting on a bright windowsill are ready to go: set them 10 cm deep, 35 cm apart in rows 70 cm wide, then draw a gentle ridge of soil over the top. In heavier soils, work in a little compost before planting to improve drainage and warm the ground faster.
LANDSCAPING : A root day favours establishing plants with strong anchoring systems. If you have bare-root roses still waiting in the shed, get them in the ground now — dig a generous hole, work in compost, spread the roots outward and firm the soil well around the crown. Lavender and heather transplant well too; both appreciate a handful of coarse grit mixed into the backfill. Mulch every new planting with 5–7 cm of bark or straw, keeping material clear of the stems, to lock in moisture and give roots the calm they need to establish through the weeks ahead.