WEEK 1

It's tough to get anything to grow underneath a limbed-up magnolia tree.

Charlotte B. Teagle/Staff (ENLARGE)

Loosen soil before planting bulbs.

Parker C. Smith/Staff (ENLARGE)

Shear faded chrysanthemums.

Phil Skinner/Staff (ENLARGE)

Prune shrubs on warm weekends.

Walter Reeves/Staff (ENLARGE)

Clematis vines differ in their need for pruning.

Prune, water sod and dig

If simply mulching doesn't suit you, try liriope, mondo grass or aspidistra (cast iron plant). Be sure to give them soft soil in which to grow.

Dry flower heads on hydrangea shrubs can be removed now but avoid pruning any more than you have to. Otherwise you'll diminish flowers for next summer.

Now is a fine time to plant tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs.

Loosen the soil deeply before planting. Soggy soil around bulbs leads to an early death.

Root four-inch cuttings of coleus and perilla in a teacup set in a sunny window. Roots will form by Christmas and you can transfer them to small pots.

WEEK 2

Plant river birch in a spot where it doesn't dry out in summer. Summer heat and drought cause it to lose copious amounts of leaves. 'Heritage' and 'DuraHeat' are the best varieties.

Fertilize fescue lawns, if not done in October, with any brand of turf fertilizer. Do not fertilize any other lawn this winter. Wait until warm season lawns are at least 75 percent green next spring.

Plant bulbs in pots filled with planting soil. Leave them outdoors where rain can occasionally moisten the containers. When new leaves appear in spring, bring the pots indoors to enjoy early blooms.

Shear faded chrysanthemums down to 3 inches tall. Place pine straw over the stems. The roots will survive winter just fine, and if you keep the plant compact in summer it will bloom again next year.

WEEK 3

Collect bags of pine straw left on the curb by your hard-working neighbors. The straw makes a nice mulch under shrubs and trees. Best of all, it's free!

Palms need specially enriched fertilizers in order to thrive. Manganese, magnesium, iron and potassium are vitally important. Look for plant food specifically labeled for palms and their kin. It will have the micro-nutrients they need when you fertilize in spring.

Spruce trees rarely thrive in Atlanta. Consider deodar cedar, 'Emerald Green' arborvitae, 'Green Giant' arborvitae, Arizona cypress or 'Grey Owl' juniper as replacements.

Are you itching to get outside and prune shrubs on warm weekend days? I have collected a pruning calendar and some pruning reference books at xrl.us/SHRUBPRUNE.

WEEK 4

Watch for tall, grassy sprouts emerging from fescue lawns that were seeded and covered with wheat straw. The sprouts are wheat seedlings. Mow normally and they will disappear.

Trained tree-type roses should be treated much like any other rose. Leave them outdoors in winter, but protect the container's roots if temperatures drop below 20 degrees. Do minor pruning now and major pruning in late February.

Pruning clematis depends on what kind you have. They're classified into three groups, and each group has different pruning needs. For details, go to xrl.us/PRUNECLEMATIS .

Looking for a climbing rose with similar disease resistance as Knockout? Look for Climbing Carefree Sunshine and Ramblin' Red.