IT IS time, once again, to spruce up your gardens for the Peebles in Bloom competition.

The competition to find the prettiest garden, organised jointly by the Peebles Community Council and the Peebles Community Trust, has become a favourite annual event in the town.

The competition has always been considered a fun event where the effort of keen gardeners is acknowledged and rewarded.

Over the years many different individuals and organisations have won prizes for their, often spectacular, displays.

It is hoped that the tradition will continue this year with many examples of artistry, imagination and gardening knowledge coming together to create a unique and colourful display that can be enjoyed by all.

As usual, the initial assessment of gardens will be carried out by Community Councillors who will then nominate gardens based on a set of criteria including variety, colour, seasonality, maintenance, planning and overall appearance.

Nominated gardens will then be assessed more critically by judges with wider gardening or artistic experience, and it is they who will make the final decisions as to which gardens should receive an award.

Awards will be granted for the best kept front garden (small, medium and large), the best business display, the best courtyard and best secret garden.

The secret garden requires nominations from friends, family or anyone else who knows of a spectacular garden which is normally hidden from view and deserves recognition.

There is also an award for the street that has dazzled the judges.

This year the Community Council has also introduced a new category of garden which requires “special recognition”.

This might be a vegetable garden, a garden developed and maintained by volunteers, or any other type of special garden which does not fall into any of the above categories.

Peebles Community Councillors will be selecting gardens in the last two weeks of July before the nominated gardens are assessed at the start of August.

The Awards ceremony will be held at the Burgh hall on August 22, at 7.30pm.

Nominations can be registered by emailing admin@peeblescommunity.org or by calling 07722 808830.