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'Tis the season to roll up your sleeves and get growing! With the new trend in urban gardening, anyone can get in on the action, whether it's a large allotment plot you've got or simply a tiny pot.

You don't need a cottage in Cotswolds to give your green thumb a workout. Urban gardening is the buzz word for turning cramped spaces such as rooftops or window ledges into your very own allotment. With a minimum of tools required and the promise of being able to reap the rewards of what you sow, gardening is the ideal summertime hobby.

Flowering plants rarely need deep soil, which means they'll be content in a window box, an old tire, a jar, an empty can - the options are as boundless as your imagination. Getting started is a simple as growing a wildflower garden from scratch by planting a range of seeds, or if you're low on patience, this 60-plant cottage package of flowering plants from Littlewoods Direct is an instant garden for just £29.

Flowers are pretty, but the latest trend in DIY gardening isn't planting begonias; it's growing your own food! How-to book, Grow Your Own Veg, offers tips on how to start your own mini-subsistence farm, including fresh crisp lettuce and Florence fennel in cramped urban conditions. These days, so many fruit and veg plants come in mini varieties, such as these dwarf apple trees, or these edible orange and lemon trees, it's easy to start your own mini orchard on your rooftop or fire escape.

If you have a more ample outdoor space, i.e. a real garden, you can transform it into a place of great tranquility with a few simple added touches. In terms of elegant garden furniture, there are a range of different options to choose from, such as this cast aluminium set from Marshall Ward, or this John Lewis Montana swing. Fountains or water features, such as this solar-powered cascading water feature, will soothingly block out city sounds while encouraging relaxation.

Not yet convinced that gardening is for you? Perhaps these facts and figures will sway you: Gardening is a low-stress, low impact activity, which means it's easy on the body while giving you a good workout. According to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, who run a number of BTCV Green Gym activities in parks across the country, you will burn almost a third more calories at a Green Gym session of gardening than in a step aerobics class. Research has also shown that partaking in regular Green Gym-type activities such as pruning, trimming and weeding can reduce your chance of heart attack or stroke up to 50% more than traditional gym workouts.

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