VEGETABLE PATCH : Dew still on the leaves — a descending waning gibbous moon holds all day, making this a fine leaf day for transplanting work right through the evening. Celery seedlings started under cover can go out now, 30 cm apart in rows 40 cm wide; press each rootball in firmly so there’s no air pocket, then water in well. Chervil thinned to 10 cm apart in rows 25 cm wide will bush out nicely before the warmer weeks arrive. Coriander thinned to 15 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide fills the same bed with a fresh, aromatic edge as temperatures climb. In Mediterranean gardens or under a polytunnel, basil plants can be set out 25 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide, but keep fleece handy for cold nights.
LANDSCAPING : A late sign change in the evening shifts energy toward fruit, but the day belongs to foliage — trim box hedges now for a crisp spring outline, working with sharp shears and collecting clippings carefully. Bamboo clumps benefit from thinning at this time: pull out the oldest, weakest canes at the base to let light and air into the centre. Spread a generous layer of compost around rhododendrons and camellia roots, keeping it clear of the stems; both plants reward a well-mulched, moisture-retentive root zone.
ORCHARD : Before the evening shift, take hardwood cuttings from currant bushes or blackcurrant — 20 cm sections, cleanly cut, pushed two-thirds into free-draining soil. Add a top-dressing of compost around raspberry canes to feed roots as growth accelerates.