One of the principle objectives of the Canterbury Horticultural Society is to assist home gardeners. With this end in view, garden awards are sponsored by the Society, for various garden classes, which, it is hoped, will allow any home gardener, together with institution and commercial property gardens, to enter the awards.

Entries in all awards are open to gardens within CCC boundaries existing prior to the Banks Peninsula amalgamation.
There are Spring and Summer Awards.

The Society also has two scholarships, established many years ago by the Management Committee of the Canterbury Horticultural Society. These are the PC Browne Scholarship and the Jeannie Dunlop Scholarship.