A senior councillor fears the western approaches to Perth will shame the city as visitors flock to the area during 2014.
Thousands are expected to make their way to the region as it plays a major role in one of the biggest years in Scotland’s recent sporting history.
The Ryder Cup, which takes place at Gleneagles from September 23 to 28 and the Commonwealth Games both offer huge potential benefits.
Perth City South councillor Willie Wilson, however, has warned the first impression many international visitors will gain will be a poor one if Perth does not step up to the mark.
He said poor grass-cutting and maintenance during much of 2013 had left large parts of Glasgow Road looking scruffy and untidy.
The south side has become increasingly overgrown, while railings have also deteriorated and complaints have also been raised about parts of Broxden Avenue.
Mr Wilson has laid the blame squarely at the feet of Perth and Kinross Council, which has made significant reductions in spending on grounds maintenance across the region as part of cost cutting measures.
He said: “This is not an impressive gateway to the city of Perth and a particularly poor entrance to a city that is at the heart of the host area for the Ryder Cup.
“We have a stark contrast here in that we have private companies such as Esso, McDonalds and Merlin ERD who have all done their bit to improve some of the verges and approaches.
“It is high time, therefore, that the council caught up on this essential work.
“If we are welcoming tourists from all over the world for the Ryder Cup, we want to make sure our city looks neat and tidy at its gateway facilities.”
As part of its efforts to make the city more attractive, Merlin ERD has offered extensive support to Beautiful Perth (formerly Perth in Bloom).
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council defended the local authority, saying: “There are differing arrangements in place for footway and road verges, with footway verges cut fortnightly by the council to maintain public access.
“On the opposite side of the road there is a high bank which is treated as a road verge and so, in line with arrangements previously agreed at the environment committee, it will be cut once a year.
“We are looking at undertaking biodiversity planting on this road verge in the springtime, which would improve the appearance of the area.”