LANDSCAPING : Fallen leaves create natural protection for tender plants! Rake them into 10cm mounds around the bases of hydrangeas and fuchsias to insulate crown buds from frost damage. / Prune wisteria by cutting back this year’s whippy green growth to just 2-3 buds from the main framework, which encourages abundant flowering next spring. / Cut back ornamental grasses showing signs of collapse, leaving architectural varieties like miscanthus and pennisetum standing for winter interest and frost patterns.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Leafy greens appreciate this moon phase! Thin winter lettuce seedlings under cloches to 20cm spacing, using removed plants as baby leaf salad rather than discarding them. / Cover rows of spinach, chard and winter cabbage with floating row covers anchored with soil at the edges to protect from both frost and persistent bird damage. / Apply a thin layer of well-rotted compost around established kale plants, keeping stems clear to prevent collar rot while feeding the soil.
INDOORS : Houseplants need different care as winter intensifies. Check the soil moisture of peace lilies, spider plants and pothos by inserting your finger 3cm deep – only water when this depth feels dry. / Rotate leafy houseplants like ferns and calatheas a quarter turn weekly to prevent lopsided growth toward light sources. / Mist air plants and tropical specimens with room-temperature water in the morning, allowing foliage to dry before evening temperature drops.