Show off your green thumb with Brampton’s front yard gardening contest

Brampton residents can share their love of gardening and show off their private plots with the Gardens of Brampton​ contest.

From July 25 to Aug. 8, Brampton gardeners are invited to share a photo of their front garden on social media using the hashtag #GardensOfBrampton or through the City’s gardening contest registration portal.

Entries will be evaluated by the City, the Brampton Horticultural Society and Chinguacousy Garden Club, with the best and most outstanding Brampton being recognized for their cultivation skills.

The competition is part of the Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, with the city committing “to being a Green City that is healthy, resilient, environmentally sustainable – and beautiful.”

There are four categories Brampton gardeners can take top place in:

• Visual Appeal: the overall visual impact, colour and texture, and a sense of harmony and balance
• Overall Appearance: a good use of space, design coordination between plants and other elements
• General Maintenance: the quality of care in pruning, weed and disease control, and consideration of environment methods
• Individuality: the creative use of special features such as ponds, garden sculpture, rockeries or a themed garden ​

Interested gardeners are asked to submit only one photo per household in a landscape (horizontal) view that encompasses the entire front garden.

No pets, people or easily identifiable house numbers are allowed in the photo, and the city recommends taking the photo from your front curb during daylight hours for best lighting.

Acceptable file formats are JPG or PNG, and the photo must be submitted on social media using the hashtag #GardensOfBrampton or by using the City’s gardening contest registration portal.

Here are some tips from experts on how to make your garden the best it can be:

• Pay attention to how sunlight passes through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun in order to thrive.
• Water your garden regularly. Mornings are the best time.
• Mulch around trees and shrubs to prevent weeds – check out this video to learn more.
• Attract pollinators to your garden by planting black-eyed Susans, salvia, hyssop or bergamot. Check out this video to learn more.
• Remove dying flowers and prune back any dead branches from shrubs.
• Keep garbage and recycling bins to the side of the house.