COOL AIR MAKES WINTER GARDENING A SNAP.

Byline: JANE GATES Gardening

SANTA CLARITA - Although this cool, moist winter weather may not be to some people's liking, the gardens really do enjoy it. And it's healthier and more comfortable for doing physical work in the garden.

Weeds are already beginning to sprout. If you can scrape the seedlings off now before they get established, you will be saving yourself work in the future. This is a good time for digging and doing more labor-intensive tasks as the air quality is better than in the warm months.

Be aware that it is best to avoid walking on wet soil right after rain, however. Most soils in this area have a lot of clay in them and this will compress easily with weight, squeezing out air pockets necessary for healthy plant roots' development. But once soil is past the muddy-wet stage, a bit of moisture actually makes it more workable since clay-rich soil is heavy and rock-hard when it's dry. So, take advantage of the dampness.

Moisture is great for compost heaps, and if you haven't already harvested your compost, this might be a good time to dig the good stuff out. There should be some great material available after this long, hot summer. Compost that is not sifted and has small soft pieces left makes an excellent mulch for the winter. Place it up to 3 inches thick over the roots of plants, making sure it doesn't actually touch stems or tree trunks. It will break down more over the winter while it provides a nice cozy blanket for root systems.

If you don't have compost for mulching, consider buying some. Bark can be used, but it often washes or blows away and it will bleach gray in Southland sunshine. Pebbles are a useful and attractive mulch for drought-tolerant plants and help moisture drain away from cactuses, which tend to rot at the soil line when the weather is cool and moist. Coconut hulls are a bit more expensive, but smell chocolaty and work back into the soil better than bark.

Whatever materials you choose, this is the time to get mulches into place for the winter cold. It's also time to bring in tender potted plants. Plant those winter vegetables before it gets too late. Root crops can be planted in succession throughout the winter, however, as can fast-growers such as loose-leaf lettuce.

It's time for pruning, leaf cleanup and putting ponds to sleep. If you are still feeding pond fish, use autumn food, which is more easily digested. And don't feed fish more than once a day. As the water cools, you should allow the fish to graze on the food provided by nature since the fish will need no extra nourishment in the winter.

Although there are plenty of jobs to do in the garden as winter approaches, don't forget to take a little time for yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Warm winter sunshine in the garden is one of nature's best cures for daily pressure and the extra stress of the holidays.