MORE than 60 gardeners have put themselves forward for this year’s Oxford in Bloom contest.

The deadline for the event, which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year, passed on Sunday.

Gardeners have been preparing for the judges to make the rounds for months, planting, watering, mowing, weeding and deadheading flowers.

A total of 62 individuals, businesses, schools and organisations have entered in 11 different categories.

The entries include everything from small gardens to university grounds and containers to community gardens.

In all, there are 93 different entries across the categories.

Oxford City Council parks development officer Michelle Legg said: “We have seen quite a few new entrants and names we don’t recognise.

“Hopefully we will be seeing a few new faces and new gardens, but the quality will be shown next week when the judges go out.”

Schools judging, by Harry Robinson and Trisha Stevens, took place earlier in the week, with five schools and children’s centres being inspected.

Next week it is the turn of domestic and commercial properties, and judges John Alcock and Mrs Stevens are working out what route they will take to visit all the properties.

They plan to arrive unannounced so gardeners cannot spend too much time preparing for their visit.

Mrs Legg said: “We know the standard will be high and it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

“This is our Silver Jubilee year and we hope the gardens of Oxford do us proud.

“It is an achievement to have had this competition for 25 years.”

Last year the contest attracted about 100 entrants.

Judges will be examining cleanliness and tidiness, the choice and variety of plants, the design of the garden – or container or balcony for some of the entries – and any special features, such as ponds.

Mrs Legg said: “We have had people involved in it who have been here pretty much from the start.

“The emphasis now is to get the next generation to carry that on.”

To that end, there is a category dedicated to junior gardeners, along with the category for schools.

The winners will be announced at a grand prize-giving event on Thursday, September 15, at Roman Way Social Club, Cowley, hosted by television presenter Wesley Smith.