The Dispatch Backyard Garden Awards presented by Ohio Mulch celebrates the best local backyard gardens in six categories: Best Home Landscaping, Best Vegetable Garden, Best Container Garden, Best Community Garden, Best Native Plant Garden, and Best Perennial Garden. Submissions are received starting in June and winners are announced at a ceremony at the Central Ohio Home & Design Show at 1pm on Sunday, August 30th.

2026 Backyard Garden Awards

Entries Open for online submissions: June 1, 2026
Entries Close: July 20, 2026

People’s Choice Public Voting: July 21-August 11, 2026

Winners’ Ceremony: August 30, 2026 at 1pm,
Outdoor Stage at the Central Ohio Home & Design Show
(Ohio Expo Center, Bricker Building)

Contest Rules

Congrats, 2025 Winning Gardens!

More on the Winners

PRESENTED BY

Categories:

Best Home Landscaping
Best Vegetable Garden
Best Container Garden
Best Community Garden
Best Native Plant Garden
Best Perennial Garden

Prizes:

Category 1st Place:
$400 gift card
+ custom award

Category 2nd Place:
custom plaque

Best of Show:
$500 gift card
+ custom award

People's Choice 1st Place:
$100 gift card
+ custom plaque

People's Choice 2nd Place:
custom plaque

*Gift cards to a local garden store

SUPPORTED BY