By MERABETH STEFFEN

Master Gardener

Do you love a good trade? How about a handy, recycled item for the garden? The Master Gardener volunteers have both and more planned.

We as gardeners love to exchange plants with each other — sharing the bounty of our perennial gardens and more. We love seeing other share in the wealth of each other’s gardens.

On Aug. 20, the Master Gardeners will host the annual Bring One Take One plant exchange, followed by a plant, used garden item and garden art sale. This will take place at The Ohio State University Mahoning County Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield.

The first event of the day, the Bring One Take One plant exchange, will be held outside adjacent to the parking lot. Plants can be checked in beginning at 9 a.m., and the exchange will start at 10 a.m. Participants may bring as many plants as they wish, however, only three exchange rounds will be held.

Plants will be arranged alphabetically and participants will have time to look over the selection before lining up and choosing their goodies at the ringing of the bell.

When should you divide plants? When they have outgrown their space. When they are looking “ratty” and dead in the center. And a few other reasons. Fall is one of the best times to divide perennials, beginning in August in our area. Spring bloomers definitely need divided now, along with other plants that require division.

Find more details and information at http://go.osu.edu/divide.

What type of plants are eligible for exchange? Check your garden for perennials that have re-seeded or need to be divided, shrubs that sucker and have spread — and don’t forget house plants that perhaps you have grown tired of having.

Plants need to be noninvasive, healthy and free of disease or will be rejected. Remove weed seedlings from freshly dug plants and include soil around the roots so they will transplant well.

All plants will be checked by the volunteers before going into the exchange. Please label if you can and securely bag or pot your plants.

From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the inside will open for shopping. Plants for sale are sourced from the volunteers’ gardens and will include natives, shrubs, shade and sun perennials, bulbs and house plants. Master Gardeners will be available to answer your plant questions and help carry your purchases.

The garden art sale will include indoor / outdoor decorative items made by the volunteers, including leaf castings and flower pots. You will be amazed at the creativity of the Master Gardeners.

The volunteers have cleaned out their sheds, barns and garages for the used garden item sale. Expect to find containers, tools, bird feeders, garden decor, books and who knows what else.

Join us for a fun Saturday and take home something new for your garden. For more details on this event, go to http://go.osu.edu/boto.

Steffen is an Ohio State University Mahoning County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.