Do you have Perth’s best verge garden? Or maybe you would like to?

WA gardening brand Baileys in partnership with The Sunday Times has launched a search for Perth’s best front verge garden in celebration of 100 years of the company serving green thumbs Statewide.

Entries for The Baileys Verge Awards open on today, with more than $25,000 in prizes to be won — including a $10,000 cash prize for Perth’s Best Verge. It makes the new awards one of WA’s richest gardening competitions.

The inaugural title is set to be judged by a panel of respected WA gardening experts, including The Sunday Times’ very own gardening columnist Andrea Whitely, passionate garden personality Neville Passmore, Rewilding Suburbia’s sustainability advocate Mel Logozzo, and Baileys fourth-generation family member Gen Bailey.

Three $5000 verge makeovers will also be up for grabs for residents nominated by themselves or others to help make their dream verges a reality.

The awards celebrate a growing movement of Perth residents who are making the conscious choice to transform their suburban verges into greener, more biodiverse spaces that benefit both people and wildlife.

“Some of Perth’s most inspiring gardens aren’t behind fences anymore. They’re on the verge, creating habitat for wildlife, cooling our suburbs and making streets more enjoyable for everyone,” Passmore said.

It’s also one of the simplest ways to boost biodiversity, reduce urban heat and create stronger, more connected communities through shared green spaces.

As the verge gardening movement booms, more research is being conducted into its environmental and economic benefit.

A Federal Government-commissioned study showed public greening efforts, like verge gardening, can reduce heat stress-related costs in the healthcare system as well as enhance social well-being in the community.

Perth residents can enter their own verge or nominate a neighbour, friend or family member whose verge deserves recognition, or who could benefit from support to bring their vision to life.

“These awards aren’t about having the biggest budget or the fanciest landscape,” Passmore said.

“We’re looking for verges that show creativity, care and make a positive contribution to the street and the people who live there.

“The makeover prizes are about helping more locals get started and bringing more great gardens to our streets.”

Judges will assess entries on creativity, street appeal, waterwise design, biodiversity and contribution to the local neighbourhood.

“We know great gardens aren’t built overnight. They come from local knowledge, perseverance and a genuine pride in place. That’s what we’ll be looking for through The Baileys Verge Awards,” Bailey said.

The awards were created to align with Baileys’ “loyal to the soil” ethos, and are part of a larger bid to celebrate the people helping shape greener, more liveable suburbs across Perth.

“For 100 years, Baileys has helped Western Australians make something out of nothing,” Bailey said.

“These awards are about recognising the people doing exactly that in their own streets — creating greener, cooler and more connected communities, one verge at a time.”

To enter, submit photographs of your verge along with a short explanation of why it deserves to be recognised.

For more information or to enter, visit baileysvergeawards.com.au. Winners will be announced on October 1.