Garden Competition

Have some good, clean fun! Enter the EHS Garden Competition

Open to amateur gardeners in the Edmonton area, the competition is designed to promote excellence in gardening. It is also a great way to grow as a gardener in a congenial test of the best!

Show off your garden and your gardening skills
Get ideas and suggestions to make your garden even better
Inspire others and celebrate with other gardeners
Win!

There is a class for everyone! Enter one or several classes.

Garden Competition Entry Categories

Class 1 Home Garden Grand Challenge

Class 1A Small Garden (up to 3,000 sq. ft.)
Class 1B Large Garden (over 3,000 sq. ft.)
Gardens are judged on total horticultural effort, including trees, shrubs, lawns, annuals, perennials, vegetables, containers, hardscaping and recreation areas, on front, back and side yards. (Some restriction on entering other categories may apply)

Class 2 Older Home Garden

An established or newly-renovated garden in homes twenty years old or more. Gardens are judged on total horticultural effort, including trees, shrubs, lawns, annuals, perennials, vegetables, containers, hardscaping and recreation areas, on front, back and side yards.

Class 3 Newly-Designed Garden

For gardeners who have moved into a new home or have inherited an existing landscape and have redone the landscape within the last four years. Gardens are judged on total horticultural effort, including trees, shrubs, lawns, annuals, perennials, vegetables, containers, hardscaping and recreation areas, on front, back and side yards. There are no size restrictions.

Class 4 Decorative Front Garden

The garden should be welcoming and have curb appeal, while still displaying a flair for the challenges of horticulture. Entries will be judged on the balance of the house to the planting of flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, walkways, originality of design and decorative effect.

Class 5 Decorative Back Garden

Judging criteria includes the balance of the house to the planting of flower beds, trees, shrubs, walkways, etc. The originality of design, decorative effect and suitability for outdoor living are also considered.

Class 6 Perennial Bed

An entry in this class must have a minimum of twenty-five different species of perennials. Plant material, excluding trees, shrubs and lawn, must consist of at least seventy-five-percent herbaceous perennials. Emphasis is placed on the design elements and variety of plant material

Class 7 Limited Garden

Class 7A Pocket Garden

Gardens of townhomes, condominiums, zero lot-line homes or duplexes

Class 7B Specialized Area of the Garden

An area of the garden judged on its own merits. Examples include Side garden, Alpine garden, Bog garden, Mixed border, and Vegetable garden. Entrants must designate type of specialized area to be judged when entering.

Class 8 Water Garden

Class 8A Large Pond Designed by Home Owner
Class 8B Small Pond Designed by Home Owner (including barrels and preformed ponds up to 1sq m.)

A water garden is an environment that supports water-loving plants. This class may include fish, amphibians, waterfalls, marginal plants and marshes within the water garden. An array of plants in the pond (at least three aquatic varieties) is required.

Class 9 Container Garden

Class 9A Planters or Window Boxes

One container or a set of matching containers with at least four species of flowers or non-flowering plants in each container.

Class 9B Themed Container

Check annually for the year's theme Class 9C Hanging Baskets One hanging basket or a matching set of baskets with at least four species of flowering or non-flowering plants.

Class 10 Annual Bed

The annual bed may be a separate bed or a clearly designated area of the garden that contains at least seventy-five percent annual plants.

Class 11 Rose Collection

A minimum of fifteen rose varieties is suggested. Emphasis is placed on the variety, vigour, maturity and maintenance of the plants. Rosa genus is the key. Distribution through the garden is encouraged—the whole property may be included.

Class 12 Volunteer-Maintained Garden

Any garden that is planted and maintained through the support of volunteers is eligible to enter this category, excluding gardens that are affiliated with the EHS and local businesses. Church grounds, seniors' homes and community gardens, for example, are judged on the merits of the gardens themselves.

Judging

Judging is based on criteria specific to each class (see competition booklet). Judging is done over two days in mid-July. All entries are also photographed.

Awards

Just being in the competition can be rewarding. Judges provide an assessment based on class criteria and offer comments on how you can improve your score and your garden! First, second and third place are awarded in each class with sufficient entries. Prizes include a certificate, a photograph and, for first place winners, a keepsake garden plaque. Our Grand Challenge trophy is inscribed with the name of the first place winner in that class.

All entrants and winners are invited to attend the awards ceremony in September.

Schedule

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, July 6th
Judging: Monday, July 11th and Tuesday, July 12th
Awards Presentation: Monday, September 26th

Entry Booklet and Form

2011 Entry Booklet

2011 Entry Form

For more information

Select Garden competition in Contact us form

or call Greg at 780-904-9334