WEEK 1

Walter Reeves/Special (ENLARGE)

Oak worms can make serious inroads on their namesake tree.

WILLIAM BERRY/Staff (ENLARGE)

A tufted titmouse at a feeder at John & Victoria Sampson's front yard.

JOEY IVANSCO/Staff (ENLARGE)

Ginko.

Handout (ENLARGE)

Craftsman Red Chassis 35038 chain saw.

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Be on the lookout for orange-striped oak caterpillars in landscape trees, and for their droppings underneath. Unless a small tree is defoliated, little permanent damage is done. Hornets and wasps control them.

Don't be surprised at tulip poplar leaves raining down now. They are among the first trees to display drought damage from the hot August.

Repeated lawn failure can usually be attributed to two causes: poor soil or improper sunlight (too much or too little). If your lawn has struggled, make sure you are maintaining it properly. Details at http://xrl.us/LAWNCALENDAR.

This is the best time to control Japanese beetle grubs with insecticide, but it is not likely that many eggs survived this summer's heat and drought. This might be a good year to skip the pesticides.

WEEK 2

Having little success with plants in your office? Try aspidistra (cast iron plant) or spathiphyllum (peace lily) Both tolerate low light and sporadic care.

Watch for army worms,particularly in newly-sodded Bermuda grass lawns. The caterpillars are two inches long and have a "Y" on top of their head. They can consume a lawn in a week.

How often do your sprinklers come on each week? Three irrigations of 20 minutes is common but is rarely appropriate. Your grass needs one deep watering per week in the absence of rain.

Enjoy watching birds but don't know their names? Look for "Common Birds of Atlanta" by Jim Wilson and Anselm Atkins. It is an excellent reference.

WEEK 3

Don't be surprised by fiery welts on your arms while weeding. Saddleback caterpillars are out now, feeding on plant leaves. If you brush against their poisonous spines, you'll know immediately.

This is prime time to plant fescue seed. Irrigate a few days beforehand, aerate, then evenly apply 6 - 8 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet. Fertilize afterwards.

Large yellow and black argiope garden spiders make eye-catching webs with a distinctive zigzag formation in the middle. They are harmless, except to marauding insects!

Tomatoes often split on the vine when they get a lot of water, especially when it's previously been dry. Harvest and use them immediately, before the split begins to rot.

WEEK 4

Cooler weather tempts weekend handypersons to use a chainsaw. Do not operate one without safety goggles, ear plugs and leather gloves.

Hardy hibiscus shrubs like swamp hibiscus, scarlet hibiscus and Confederate rose can be moved as soon as they finish blooming.

Gingko trees are famous for the butter yellow color of their fall leaves. Young trees don't usually develop bright colors. Wait a few more years until your tree is more mature.