It’s back - and it’s going to mean a bright and blooming summer for Portsmouth!
The much-loved Portsmouth in Bloom is making a return this year in floral celebration of the city’s centenary.
The scheme is being run by Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with The News and Portsmouth Water, and under the expert guidance of Southsea’s award-winning gardening writer, author and television presenter Martyn Cox.
Winners will be crowned at a special awards ceremony in September and will receive a commemorative Portsmouth Gold Rose - being grown especially this year for the centenary - as well as a trophy and a Waterfront Garden Centre voucher.
The competition
The revived Portsmouth in Bloom will be very much focused on sustainable gardens and spaces that have adapted to our changing environment, through thoughtful planting, reducing waste, supporting healthy soil and biodiversity, avoiding harmful chemicals, and reducing the use of valuable water resources.
The competition will have the following 11 categories:
- Small garden/courtyard
- Larger garden
- Balcony or windowbox or container
- Workplace
- Nursery, school or college
- Communal or community garden (including residential homes)
- Borrowed spaces (such as street planters)
- Growing spaces (including allotments)
- Hotel, restaurant, bar or café
- Wildlife garden
A special award may also be presented for any entry which truly wows the judging panel, such as an exceptional space for celebrating.
Portsmouth in Bloom is only open to residents and businesses within the city council boundary and city council tenants living outside the city.
Entering Portsmouth in Bloom
Entry packs for Portsmouth in Bloom are now available to download (PDF, 613KB).
Alternatively, register your interest now by emailing cityvision@portsmouthcc.gov,uk.
Please provide:
- Your name
- The address of the garden or site you are entering
- Which category you would like to enter
- The inspiration for your space
- Why you love planting
- What sustainability measures you have incorporated (eg water saving)
After 30 June 2026, registered participants will be sent a link to a form so they can submit their entries for judging - submission of both photographs and videos will be permitted. Entries will close on 24 July.
There will then be a shortlisting process and a small judging panel will visit the spaces in August to meet entrants and to make final decisions.
Help and advice
Creating and maintaining a beautiful garden doesn’t have to mean using lots of water. In fact, using less water can not only help you to save money and protect local resources, but can also help your garden flourish.
Here are Portsmouth Water’s top tips for preparing for a healthy and happy space to grow:
- Make the most of the rain
Collecting rainwater using a water butt is an easy way to keep your plants thriving – and it’s free! The natural nutrients in the water will also help healthy and vibrant plants grow.
- Mulch matters
Mulching your soil with garden compost, bark chips or similar materials helps soil retain moisture and regulate its temperature. Healthier soil means stronger, more resilient plants – and mulch can help cut down on weeding too!
- Try less thirsty plants
Shrubs and hardy perennials, like lavender, need less water. Not only does that mean they need less looking after, but they also stay looking great even in hot and dry conditions.
- Consider clover
Clover needs less water than traditional grass lawns and stays greener for longer. It also produces small flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.
- Small steps make a big difference
Our local water resources are feeling the pressure as our climate changes and our community grows, but we can all make a real difference.
Simple, everyday actions in your garden can go a long way, from adapting what you plant to how you water. By taking steps to be water wise, you're helping your garden to thrive while also protecting local water resources, supporting local wildlife and making sure we have the water we need – today and for the future.
For more ways to make your garden greener and save water, visit portsmouthwater.co.uk/saving-water-garden.
Martyn Cox will be providing his own advice in a weekly column which will be published in The News and will have a particular focus on sustainable planting and gardening.
