The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden are sponsoring the 11th annual Great Gardens Contest for gardeners living in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

TThere are three judging periods:

• Spring - entry deadline is May 20, 2013
• Summer - entry deadline is Aug. 5, 2013
• Fall/year-round - entry deadline is Sept. 16, 2013

There are three categories of competition:

• Small - gardens of 2,000 square feet or less
• Medium - between 2,000 square feet and a quarter acre
• Large - gardens larger than a quarter acre

Entrants can make use of professionals in design or maintenance of the garden. Grand prizes will be awarded in each category.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette may publish the name, photographs and any information provided with entries, in print and on the Internet, including any advertising and promotion.

Winners must sign a statement that they have fully complied with the rules and terms outlined.

Only the homeowner or tenant may enter his garden in the contest. Employees of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette or Pittsburgh Botanic Garden are disqualified from entering the contest, as are members of their immediate families. The judging panel is made up of local gardening experts, designers and garden writers.

One entry per household per judging period.

Prizes

Winners will receive a one-year membership to the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania and two tickets per winner to next year’s Botanic Garden annual tour.

QUESTIONS, comments or concerns can be directed to PG Garden Editor Susan Banks (412-263-1516 or sbanks@post-gazette.com) or Homes Editor Kevin Kirkland (412-263-1978 or kkirkland@post-gazette.com).

Full contest rules are available here.

Entries must be submitted online. No mailed entries will be considered. Submit the entry information through our online form by clicking the button below. The form will allow you to upload up to 10 photos of your garden. Please include the names of the most prominent plants in each photo with your essay (captions do not count against the 250-word limit). If there is a problem uploading photos, please e-mail them to kkirkland@post-gazette.com and submit the online entry form without them.

In 250 words or less, describe to us why you think your garden is great. Consider factors such as how well you’ve used the available space, your plant selection, creative solutions for problem areas, your gardening experience and some of your possible goals for the garden. Include any other information you think is important for judges to know. Please include at the top of your essay which category, Small, Medium or Large, you are entering.

There will be three separate judging periods -- spring, entry deadline May 20; summer, entry deadline Aug. 5; and fall/year-round, entry deadline Sept. 16.

Entries must be submitted by midnight on the deadline day. Entrants may be contacted by judges and their gardens visited at any time before the entry deadline or within three days after the entry deadline. Winners will be notified within four days after the entry deadline.