Residents across Perth’s City of Vincent are being encouraged to showcase their gardens and green spaces after entries opened for the annual Greening Vincent Garden Competition.

The competition provides an opportunity for local residents, schools and businesses to highlight gardens, vegetable patches, native landscapes and creative outdoor spaces. This year’s competition includes five categories, with winners receiving vouchers and other prizes.

A new category has been introduced this year to recognise the stories behind special trees. The Best Tree Tale category allows residents to explain why a particular tree is meaningful to them, whether it was planted to mark an important milestone, passed through generations, supports local wildlife or simply has a special place within the garden.

The competition also includes categories for the Best Front or Back Garden, Best Vincent Verge, Best Wildlife-Friendly Garden and Best Small Space Garden.

The initiative is designed to recognise the work residents are doing to create greener neighbourhoods throughout the City of Vincent. Gardens and trees can provide more than visual appeal, with vegetation helping create shade, support wildlife and make urban areas more comfortable.

Green spaces can also contribute to biodiversity within metropolitan areas. Native plants and wildlife-friendly gardens can provide habitat and food sources for insects, birds and other local species. Even relatively small gardens can contribute to a network of green spaces across an urban community.

The competition's small-space category is particularly relevant for residents who may not have large gardens. Balconies, courtyards and compact outdoor areas can still be designed to include plants and other features that support a greener environment.

The wildlife-friendly category encourages residents to consider how their gardens can support native species. This can include planting suitable vegetation, providing habitat and creating environments that attract birds and beneficial insects.

The new tree category adds a personal element to the competition. Instead of simply judging the appearance of a garden, the category gives residents an opportunity to share the history and memories connected with a particular tree.

Prizes are available across all five categories. First-place winners will receive $500 worth of vouchers, while second-place winners will receive $200 worth of vouchers. Third-place winners will also receive a gift.

Entries opened on 3 August and will remain open until 5pm on Friday, 4 September 2026. Judging is scheduled to take place later in September, with the winners expected to be announced at an awards night on 28 October 2026.

The competition provides a community-focused way for residents to participate in improving Perth's urban environment. It also encourages people to recognise the value of gardens, trees and other green spaces within established neighbourhoods.

For the City of Vincent, the initiative highlights the role residents can play in making local streets and neighbourhoods greener and more attractive. Community participation can complement broader environmental and urban-planning efforts by increasing vegetation and encouraging people to care for shared and private green spaces.

The competition is also an opportunity for residents to learn from one another. Gardeners can see different approaches to landscaping, native planting, food gardens and wildlife-friendly design, potentially inspiring new ideas for their own properties.

As entries remain open, residents have several weeks to prepare their gardens and submit their applications.