Enter the 2026 North Sydney Garden Competition

Entries are now open for the 2026 North Sydney Garden Competition, with gardeners of all ages and abilities invited to compete across 11 categories, from windowsill herbs and full-scale indoor atriums to backyard orchards, frog ponds and native wildlife havens. Entry is free and closes Friday 28 August. 

Open to residents, schools and community groups across the North Sydney local government area, the annual competition celebrates the creativity, care and environmental stewardship behind the area’s green spaces — no matter their size.  With dedicated categories for balcony and courtyard gardens, apartment dwellers working with limited space and plenty of hard surfaces are just as much in the running as those with a sprawling backyard.  

Open to gardeners of all experience levels, the competition shines a spotlight on the diverse ways people are transforming spaces across the North Sydney local government area. 

This year's 11 categories span Balcony, Courtyard, Indoor and Children’s Gardens, Most Beautiful Garden, Native Habitat Gardens and separate Edible Gardens prizes for private growers and community groups producing food together. The prestigious Lex and Ruby Graham prizes recognise individuals and groups beautifying public spaces, and gardeners can enter the same garden in more than one category.  

Returning judge Judith Sleijpen will also present the Judge’s Special Award for an entry showing exceptional creativity, innovation or excellence. She says the winning gardens will be the ones that spark joy. 

“I'd love to know why your green space is important to you and if some plants bring you special times of enjoyment,” Ms Sleijpen said. 

First-time gardeners are especially encouraged to enter, with judges recognising gardens of every size and style. Winners will be announced at the Garden Competition Awards Ceremony on Friday 25 September, with prizes including gardening tools and other garden-themed rewards.

Enter now 

Key dates 

1. Entries close: 28 August 2026 

2. Judging: 7 to 17 September 2026 

3. Awards Ceremony: 25 September 2026 

4. Entry: Free, open to all gardeners in the North Sydney LGA. Gardens may be nominated in multiple categories- one entry per category, per garden. 

Award categories 

1. Balcony Gardens – paved areas with pots/planter boxes (e.g., units/flats) 
   For units/flats spaces with their garden potential maximised through the use of pots, planter boxes, or walled gardens which may include pots, planter boxes and ornaments. These are areas where gardeners are challenged by limited space and lots of hard surfaces. 

2. Courtyard Gardens – paved areas with planted pots in ground-level residences 
   Often in villas, townhouses, or terraces. While they may also be paved, they can include planted pots and sometimes small garden beds or in-ground planting areas, depending on the layout. They offer slightly more flexibility than balconies in terms of layout and garden design. 

3. Most Beautiful Garden – front/back garden or both 
   From small to large scale gardens, with native habitats or structured formal gardens, we want to see who has the most beautiful garden in North Sydney. 

4. Indoor Gardens – pot plants or container gardens 
   From a small collection of pots in the corner to a full-scale atrium, get creative with your indoor plants and show the judge your most spectacular room. 

5. Children's Garden – garden created or cared for by a child/children 
   This is for gardens created or cared for by a child or group of children. Think childcare centres, schools or just a family backyard with a gardening space dedicated to the kids. 

6. Native Habitat Garden – featuring native flora and/or encouraging native fauna 
   Have you been demonstrating environmental awareness and creating wildlife habitats with lots of native plants and other habitat features such as hollows, frog ponds and dense undergrowth? This category is for you. 

7. Edible Garden – Private – individual efforts (herbs, vegetables, fruit trees) 
   For any garden that focuses on producing food. From small balconies with potted herbs to full-size vegetable plots and orchards, show the judge what your household is producing. 

8. Edible Garden – Community – shared efforts (schools, co-ops, communal spaces) 
   Do you have members of the community working together to produce food for sharing? It doesn't matter is it's on public or privately owned land, we want to see you demonstrate group effort and reward. 

9. Lex and Ruby Graham Prize – Individual – public space beautification 
   For an individual that is maintaining or beautifying public land. 

10. Lex and Ruby Graham Prize – Group – group effort in a public space 
    For public areas that are being maintained or beautified by groups of residents. 

11. Judge's Special Award – discretionary award for excellence or creativity 
    This discretionary award recognises outstanding excellence or creativity in any aspect of the garden competition. It highlights unique, innovative, or inspiring entries that stand out beyond the standard categories, celebrating gardeners who bring something truly special to their garden. 

Enter now