Mayor's Garden Contest
Stay tuned - applications for the 2026 Mayor's Garden Contest will open soon.
The annual event is a citywide celebration of urban gardening. We recognize gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs, helping beautify Boston's neighborhoods.
-
Have questions? Contact us:
About the contest
The Garden Contest is part of Mayor Michelle Wu's citywide beautification initiative.
Contest timeline
- Entry deadline: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
- Finalist notification: No later than Tuesday, July 21, 2026
- Judges visit gardens: Week of July 27, 2026
- Awards ceremony: Late August
Prizes
First place winners in the garden categories will receive the "Golden Trowel" award from Mayor Michelle Wu. They will also be entered to win a grand prize of two round trip tickets on JetBlue for non-stop travel from Boston, provided by JetBlue. Additional support provided by Mahoney's Garden Centers.
Garden Contest Hall of Fame
Mayor Michelle Wu will recognize Garden Contest Hall of Fame inductees at the awards ceremony. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a gardener must have won three or more times.
Eligibility and categories
The contest is only for Boston residents who are amateur gardeners. Businesses and other groups may submit an entry in our “Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District Garden” category.
General informationThe first round of judging is done by viewing the photos you submit as part of your application. Please include whole photos of the garden (not close ups of individual flowers, vegetables or plants.) Any photos or images you submit to us become City of Boston property. We may use these images for press or marketing purposes. Finalist gardens will be judged in person.
Please keep in mind: You can only enter into one category each year.
Categories
- Porch, Balcony, or Container Garden
- Shade Garden
- Small Yard Garden (250 square feet or less)
- Medium Yard Garden (250 to 500 square feet)
- Large Yard Garden (larger than 500 square feet)
- Community Garden (individual plot)
- Vegetable or Herb Garden
- Age Strong Garden Category (Senior 65 and older)
- Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District Garden
- Pollinator Garden Category
Use your best judgement as to what category your garden fits into.
Judging criteria
When judging a garden, we’re paying attention to:
- general appeal and neatness
- natural or formal layout
- use of color
- plant material
- variety and quality of plants, and
- sustainable features and methods used to create the garden.
Photos of 2025 Winning Gardens
Who's Involved:
-
Have questions? Contact us:
