Toowoomba Chronicle Garden Competition 2022 City Under 45 winner Tiffany Wicks ready for 2023 competition

A mum-of-three has taken inspiration from previous winners and has sound advice for those looking at entering into this year’s Garden Competition. Find out how she’s preparing here.

Gardening is an experiment that improves through continuous learning and inspiration from others, according to a 2022 competition winner.

City under-45 years Chronicle Garden Competition 2022 winner Tiffany Wicks was a first-time entrant who thought she would try her hand at gardening while raising a young family with her husband.

Now, the mum-of-three is back with new tips and tricks up her sleeve, ready to bring her A-game to the 2023 competition.

“Last year I didn’t really know … my garden was very young and I didn’t have enough,” Mrs Wicks said.

“My timing last year was severely off, and I planted way too late, so most of my things weren’t flowering when they should have been.

“I didn’t know about fertilisers with annuals, because its such a different type of garden compared to your long-term plants. I had no idea, but hopefully this year will be better.”

Tiffany Wicks, winner ABC Rod Hultgren Memorial Trophy. Chronicle Garden Competition awards. City Golf Club.

Mrs Wicks said she learnt a lot from favourite gardens across the region, however one garden was a standout.

“Leisa and Serge (Rossignol) had a beautiful cottage garden. It’s really up my alley in terms of their design and their flowers,” she said.

“Gardening is such a unique thing, and they were a big inspiration. You choose what you like from the gardens that are around.”

The Rossignols were 2021 Grand Champions of The Chronicle Garden Competition and were crowned City Back Garden winners in 2022.

“Your garden is a representation of your own personality, 100 per cent,” Mrs Wicks said.

“Everything that I’ve done is what I love, and the colours I love.”

First time entrant Tiffany Wicks in her prize winning garden of The Chronicle Garden Competition, Carnival of Flowers 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

This year, Mrs Wicks said she applied knowledge she’d learnt from last year, and took into account the types of flowers and their needs to best suit her garden, and the way the sun moves throughout the months.

“When I planted last year, I didn’t really know. It was a test of what would tolerate the shade, and then into the full sun,” she said.

“I was giving it a crack last year. I’m still giving it a crack, but hopefully it’s a bit better.”

Mrs Wicks said for those interested in entering the competition, ensure they are organised and if working, opt for a weekend viewing instead of committing to a two-week period.

“Give it a go, you’ve got nothing to lose,” she said.

“Unless you’re a fragile person, because you get suggestions, advice and what hasn’t worked along the way, then you won’t come out of the competition any worse than when you came in.”

Applications for The Chronicle Garden Competition closes on August 11 at 2pm, with the judging period to commence between September 1 and 7.