Garden WORKOUT Who needs a gym session if you've got a garden to keep you trim?

With gyms, pools and exercise classes out of bounds, it’s time to flex your pecs in the garden. Gardening has proven health benefits, so if you have a garden, get outdoors and do yourself – and your plot – some good.

- SHARON SWEENEY

Research shows gardening for 30 minutes a day can help achieve weight loss, increase flexibility, strengthen joints and reduce high blood pressure.

Some activities are quite intense, so warm up first with a walk around the garden and do a few gentle squats (hold onto something if you need to steady yourself).

The gardening experts at Haskins Garden Centres have come up with a hit list of gardening maintenance you need to do at this time of year. And, if you need an incentive to get going, here’s what it does for your body.

Raking

Much like rowing, this engages the entire upper body and provides a good workout for the shoulder, back and pectoral muscles, plus you’ll shed around 350-450 calories an hour.

Body-saving tips