MADISON – Owners of residential, commercial and municipal properties can register now for the 2018 Madison Beautification Awards.

Members of Madison Beatification and Tree Board sponsor the judging and subsequent recognition. The board will host an awards luncheon this summer and install freestanding, metal signs with a plaque at the properties.

“All Madison City properties should exemplify the beauty of our community by showing prideful effort through their landscape to have an overall inviting curb appeal through colorful, healthy annuals and perennials,” beautification board publicist Amber Braman said.

“Currently, we are working with Public Works to replace the old beautification signs with new ones,” Braman said. All 2018 winners will receive the new signage.

Deadline for applications and the $25 application fee is May 10. The nomination form is available at www.madisonal.gov/733/Madison-Beautification-Awards-Program.

To pay by check, (postal) mail the application and payment to Madison Beautification and Tree Board, 100 Hughes Road, Madison AL 35758.

Judges will view properties on May 24, rain or shine. Applicants should plant all flowers, shrubs and other specimens before May 24.

The beautification board will continue to use 2017 judging criteria. “Property owners should read the updated standards and evaluate how to best plan for their replacement spring plantings. Owners should remove any weeds, diseased or dead plants prior to the day of judging. Points deducted will be full points and not partial,” Braman said.

Passing scores range from 95-100 points. Honor Roll recipients must rank at 95 or higher for five consecutive years. A property with a perfect score of 100 earns an ‘Excellence’ rating. A failing score is 94 or less.

“We also are very excited to announce a new award for ‘Best in Show’ to honor a property that has shown outstanding effort in beautifying Madison,” Braman said.

Madison Beautification and Tree Board will host the 2018 Awards Banquet for properties scoring 95 or higher on June 21 at Best Western Plus at 9035 Madison Blvd. The board will notify winning applicants by mail, and winners should RSVP for the luncheon by June 14.

“Further, we’re also looking for new members and volunteers to join our board,” Braman said. Individuals can email keepmadisonbeautiful@gmail.com or attend monthly meetings on third Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall’s conference room.

Applicants can ask questions about judging standards by emailing keepmadisonbeautiful@gmail.com. For more information, visit keepmadisonbeautiful.org.