SOUTHGATE: Plant exchange on tap Saturday at newspaper's office

Is your green thumb getting itchy?

Scratch it Saturday during The News-Herald Newspapers’ “Dig It” spring perennial exchange.

The plant swap is set for 9 to 11 a.m. in The News-Herald’s parking lot, One Heritage Drive, and it’s free.

Bring your plants and trade them with other gardeners for something new to brighten your yard.

This year, the Wayne County Master Gardeners Association will offer something new — heirloom tomato and pepper plants members have grown from seed. The heirloom plants for sale will be in limited supply.

No other plants can be sold during the exchange, please, although you can swap to your heart’s content.

The master gardeners also will help answer your garden questions.

Some door prizes, including a six-pack of heirloom tomato plants, will be in the offing, as well.

Garden clubs that want to set up tables at the event are welcome. Call “Dig It” columnist Paul Rodman, an advanced master gardener, at 1-313-719-1181 to make arrangements or to learn more.

If you’re new to plant exchanges, here’s how they work. You drive in with a car trunk or truck bed full of plants, park and make trades. It’s as simple as that.

Here are some tips from Rodman:

Dig and divide your perennials. Pot them up and label each container. Old milk cartons, cottage cheese or yogurt containers make good pots for exchanges.

Seasoned traders sometimes bring pictures and descriptions of the plants they have to offer.

Make a sign on poster board or cardboard listing what you have to trade and also what new plants you might be seeking.

You can trade right out of the trunk of your car or the bed of your truck. Or bring a wagon so you can circulate among other traders.

Perennial reference books are helpful to have at exchanges.

New gardeners with nothing to trade are welcome. Gardeners are generous.

Veteran traders should come willing to share advice.

The biggest tip? Have fun!