It’s National Gardening Week (April 11-17) and one of the easiest ways to give gardening a go is to get a pot and get planting.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some handy tips on container gardening from the garden gurus at Woodlodge - terracotta pot specialists and makers of the National Trust’s garden planters.

Just follow these top tips and you can have an instant garden or mini makeover in minutes.

Choose the right pot: Make sure your container has a hole in the bottom to allow good water drainage. If you are using terracotta pots then they should be frost resistant - so you don’t have to bring them in during the winter months to avoid weather damage.

Choose the right compost: Do not use soil from your garden. You can get good potting compost from any garden centre, and one that has slow release plant feed incorporated is a good choice for pots as plants in containers need regular feeding.

Choose the right plants: You can grow most plants in containers, even vegetables. You just need to factor in whether they are going to be in full sun all day or be in a more shady area of your garden. Plants like roses and sweet peas are sun lovers whereas petunias and salvias can take a bit of shade - so it’s best to use one type of plant per pot.

Planting the pots: If your containers are large, then place them where they will eventually go before you fill them with compost and plants as they may be too heavy to move after. Fill the container with soil, so the base of the plant (where the stem starts) is about 2cm from the top of the pot. Remove the plant from its nursery container and place in your pot then carefully fill in with potting compost and pat down gently.

Watering: Keep the soil moist - in the summer months this may mean having to water daily or at least twice a week - but don’t let pots sit in water as this can cause the plant roots to rot.

All you have to do then is sit back and enjoy your blooming lovely outdoor floral display!

National Trust garden planters are available in garden centres and nurseries around the UK. For stockists go to www.woodlodge.co.uk