LANDSCAPING : A perigee day calls for restraint rather than grand gestures — conditions today favour observation and maintenance over any major work. Walk the garden with a critical eye: check ties on climbing roses, wisteria and clematis, loosening any that have tightened around stems through autumn growth. Mulch the base of hydrangeas and rhododendrons with a 5–8 cm layer of bark or leaf mould, keeping it clear of the crown to prevent rot.
ORCHARD : Quiet days like this reward careful observation. Walk among your apple trees, pear trees and quince trees, noting any crossing or rubbing branches for the pruning work ahead in winter. Check stored fruit carefully — a single soft pear can spoil its neighbours within days. Inspect ties on young walnut or chestnut trees and ease anything cutting into bark. On heavier soils, clear any waterlogged hollows around tree collars and top up with a thin layer of grit-enriched mulch.
INDOORS : Lemon trees and oleanders brought under cover deserve attention now. Check lemon trees for scale insects along the stems — a cotton pad dampened with diluted soap solution removes them cleanly. Water sparingly, only when the top 3 cm of compost feels dry. Cyclamen in cool rooms will reward you with weeks of colour if you remove spent flowers at the base and avoid wetting the tuber when watering.