LANDSCAPING : Most of the day carries a flower character — a fine window for ornamental planting while the soil still holds some autumn warmth. Set out chrysanthemum plants from pots, firming them in well at the base; they’ll colour the border right through November. Cyclamen tubers go in at soil level in a cool, shaded spot — barely covered, never buried deep. Divide overgrown perennials such as hellebore clumps with a sharp spade, replanting sections 40 cm apart in light shade with moist, humus-rich soil. Peonies can go in now too: settle the buds just 3 cm below the surface — deeper and they simply won’t flower. Add a generous layer of compost around newly planted specimens to insulate roots against the first frosts.
ORCHARD : A descending moon suits planting and root establishment well. Quince trees, hazel and walnut trees can all go in now in a well-prepared hole; mulch the base with a 10 cm layer to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature through winter. Currant bushes and blackcurrants are equally at home planted this month — space them 1.2 m apart and they’ll settle in quietly before spring.
LANDSCAPING : After the sign change this evening, the day shifts to a leaf character — a good moment to tuck in camellia or rhododendron plants in ericaceous soil, watering in with lime-free water. Trim any heather lightly after flowering to keep plants compact, and check ties on climbing roses or wisteria before autumn winds pick up.