VEGETABLE PATCH : Today the lunar node passes through, making this an unfavourable moment — but a genuinely useful one for the quiet, careful work that keeps a kitchen garden thriving. Run a hoe lightly between rows of lettuce and potato to break the surface crust and let air reach the roots / Spread a 5 cm layer of straw or dried grass mulch around strawberry plants to keep the fruit clean and the soil moisture locked in during warm late-May days / Check artichoke stems for any soft or damaged leaves at the base and remove them cleanly, then top-dress with a thin shovelful of compost around each crown.
LANDSCAPING : A good afternoon for stepping back and observing — notice where rose stems are crossing or rubbing and note them for a future tidy / Check clematis ties and loosen any that are beginning to bite into new growth / Lavender plants benefit from a light weeding around their base; keep the soil open and free-draining, especially on heavier ground / Wisteria that has been pruned can have its ties checked and adjusted as stems thicken quickly at this time of year.
ORCHARD : Raspberry canes are growing fast — check and loosen any ties that may restrict the cane as it swells / Currant bushes and blackcurrants can be inspected for signs of aphid distortion on the young leaves; remove affected shoot tips by hand / Grapevine foliage is dense enough now to warrant opening up the canopy a little — check ties and reposition any shoots that are shading the main fruiting wood.