ROCK ROSES (Helianthemum) such as the one pictured in the Deloraine Commonwealth Bank garden in October, are both frost and drought resistant.

From Europe and North America, they are a valuable addition to a raised bed or rock garden, where they should have full sun.

They can be dug up and divided now while they are dormant.

The blue-flowered plant behind is a Scabious (Scabiosa caucasica), which enjoys similar conditions to the Helianthemum, except that in this position the foliage has developed a persistent mould – perhaps because there is insufficient air circulation.

In the food garden

Raspberry canes can be lifted and divided now, to just three or four canes. Cut them back, trim the roots and replant in well manured rows.

Rhubarb should be lifted every few years, before it gets large and clumpy.

Chop off a lot of the woody yellow root material and replant in a bed which has been enriched with well rotted cow manure.