Gardening, as a pastime, is not really something that can be enjoyed in 20 minutes. It usually requires spans of time far greater than this and can easily make hours seem like minutes. But, then there are times when 20 minutes is all you get - and you better use it wisely.

The weekends are predominantly my garden fixes. They usually consist of a few hours working on a new project, maintaining areas (such as the lawn), or getting dirty by moving plants around the yard. Yet, if the only time I got to spend in the garden was on weekends then my quality of life would be poorer for it.

I return home from my full-time job between 5:30-6pm most days, and after a 15 minute coffee with my wife and quick wrestle with the kids I'm left with 20 minutes of sunshine - albeit fading - before dark. This small window of opportunity can be the difference between feeling connected with my garden or becoming melancholically apathetic towards it.

So here's 51 things we can do in the garden with only 20 minutes available;

1. 'Smell the roses'
2. Pick some flowers
3. Start a new hanging basket or container plant
4. Turn the compost
5. Pull some weeds
6. Rake some leaves
7. Prune a shrub
8. Plant some annuals
9. Fertilise your plants
10. Sow some veggie seeds
11. Repot a cacti
12. Restock the bird feeder
13. Take some photographs
14. Pick some fruit
15. Gather lavender flowers for some pot-pourri
16. Water your container plants
17. Shape your topiary or hedge
18. Test your soil for future plantings
19. Propagate some new plants
20. Make some natural pesticide
21. Train a vine
22. Deadhead your finished blooms
23. Plant some bulbs
24. Start a new compost heap
25. Pick some veggies
26. Begin making some compost tea
27. Repair your lawn retic
28. Repot some of your container plants
29. Transplant a shrub that hasn't been growing well
30. Plant a fruit tree
31. Pour scolding water over weeds in your paths
32. Mark out a new garden bed
33. Collect some herbs for dinner
34. Stake a tree or your tomato bushes
35. Thin out your veggie beds
36. Spread some mulch
37. Divide some bulbs
38. Collect seeds from your spent annuals
39. Refill the bird bath
40. Sweep your garden paths
41. Clean your garden tools
42. Build a climbing frame for your beans and peas
43. Move your container plants into better positions
44. Dig up a dead plant
45. Clean garden walls from unwanted moss
46. Enjoy a garden walk
47. Mow a small lawn
48. Make some wind-protection for a tree or shrub
49. Sow a green manure
50. Clean the water feature
51. Map out a new garden bed

So, the next time you find that you only have 20 minutes to get out in the garden you won't have an excuse. There is so much we can do in our gardens even when time is limited.