Ten steps to...

Us men can be notoriously bad for neglecting the garden, but once you plant a few flowers you won’t know where your old garden went. Here’s how to.

If you’re garden is looking a little shabby this summer then you can always inject it with a bit of colour by planting a few flowers. Don’t worry, it’s not a girly thing. Looking after your garden and making sure the hedges are trimmed (steady on) will give you a good reason to get outside and get some fresh air.

It’s about time you put down the Xbox controller and picked up a trowel anyway.

What you’ll need:

Potted flowers
Fertiliser
Trowel
Mulch
Water
Watering can

Step 1: Plan your garden

The first thing to do is decide what areas of the garden are the best to plant flowers in. You may want to see your garden in all its glory from the comfort of your back-room on a rainy day. So make sure you're not planting flowers that will be hidden from view.

Step 2: Buy your flowers

Head down to your local garden store and pick out some nice pre-potted plants. Make sure to buy ones that look healthy and don't have any pests on them. You can also pick up a few bulbs so you can grow your own from scratch. If you have the time you should do some research online into what plants are easy to maintain and what works well in our climate.

Step 3: Place your flowers in the right area

Once you've bought your plants and bulbs you can begin on deciding where in your garden is the best place for them. Some plants prefer the shade while others thrive in the full on heat of the sun. You should get a little info card with each plant so just have a quick look at it before you go planting.

Step 4: Dig a hole

Now it's time to dig. Using your trowel dig a hole that's twice the size of the plant's pot. If you're using a bulb just dig a generous sized hole that your bulb can comfortably sit in.

Step 5: Fertilise

If you really want your plants to come out fighting fit, you should add a bit of fertiliser to the soil now. Be careful not to add too much in as this can burn the plants roots, which kills off the plant. It's best to follow the instructions on the packet for this one.

Step 6: Place your bulb or plant in the hole

Once the soil is fertilised you can plant your bulb or potted plant in the centre of your hole. Make sure to leave a bit of room around the sides. Be careful when you take the plant out of the pot as the soil might disintegrate in your hands. Don't worry if it does though.

Step 7: Cover your bulb or plant

If you're planting a bulb, throw a small layer of lose dirt over your bulb. Then, with your water and watering can, soak the dirt until it's soaked throughout. Continue adding layers of dirt and water until the bulb is completely covered. If you're using a potted plant, throw dirt in and around the gap you left at the sides, soak with water and repeat. Leave the water to soak down and press hard on top of your layers of dirt to make sure the plant is sitting securely.

Step 8: Mulch it in

Once the plant or bulb is securely placed in a layer of topsoil, sprinkle mulch around the base making sure not to cover the stem of your plant.

Step 9: Water

Give your plant or bulb one last water. This will help the nutrients from the mulch to wash down.

Step 10: Let the sun do the rest

All that's left is let the sun take over and do the rest. Once you begin to see your garden flourish thanks to your own hard work, you'll start to notice your fingers turning a lovely shade of green.