As one of pop music's most openly decadent stars, it may come as no surprise to learn that Lily Allen has an interest in cultivating 'grass'.

However, the Smile singer is actually a budding gardener who has decided the time is right to neaten up her back yard.

Making the most of a hot day in the capital, Lily was photographed buying a new lawnmower from the Kilburn branch of Argos yesterday.

Gardening time: Lily Allen has decided the time is right to mow the grass

The former wild child, now 23, once admitted to having led a debauched, drug-taking existence.

Lily said in 2006: 'I was a drug dealer in Ibiza at 15.

'I did not excel in drug-dealing - I was terrible at it. Golden rule with drug-dealing; don’t get too enthusiastic with your own merchandise.

'But I haven’t done drugs for a while now. Too busy. I’d like to say work and sex have replaced drugs. But there’s not been enough time off work for sex. This must change.'

New purchase: Lily loads her lawnmower into her car in Kilburn

Following the success of her debut album Alright Still in 2007, Lily moved out of her mother, producer Alison Owen's north London home and bought her own place in Queen's Park, north west London.

And after spending a lot of the summer jetting around Europe, Lily is back in London and looks eager to take care of her new garden.

Healthy choice: Lily stocks up on a butternut squash and a courgette