HERE COME THE WINDS AGAIN.

Byline: JANE GATES Gardening

Here come the winds. Blustering Santa Ana winds often huff into December, though the year before last they roared into February.

In the garden, lanky vines need to be tied, and tall plants in breakable pots need to be secured. Make sure any new trees you plant are properly staked. Around here, very young trees need all the support we can give them (literally and figuratively).

Most deciduous trees will still be holding on to their leaves, but growth is slowing down.

The last of the summer crops can be harvested. Hopefully, if you planted them in a timely manner, winter squashes and gourds will be ready for use and display as their foliage succumbs to mildew and the vines die back.

Chrysanthemums are in their full glory as are a number of other late season flowers, including a last show from the roses. Fill in spaces with cool season annuals: snapdragon, pansy, calendula, sweet pea, dianthus, stock and viola.

This is a big planting month for us. This and next month is the time to start planting perennials and trees to establish their roots.

Winter vegetable crops are now ready to be planted from six-packs or seed. Peas, beets, leeks, onion seeds and sets, carrots (most root crops), Swiss chard, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and herbs can go into the ground.

Don't even consider any summer vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squashes etc. It's too late for them this year. But if you have space for a large, bold vegetable with great ornamental value, don't forget to include an artichoke plant or two.

Asparagus plants will start appearing in shops as will strawberry plants from now through early winter. These plants need a head start. Asparagus plants, like rhubarb, should have a few years to grow strong roots before you cut them for consumption.

We can probably enjoy the last flowers of perennials like the butterfly bush, roses and sage before pruning them back. Again, like trees, bushes are still active enough that severe pruning can be left for another month or so until they go into a deeper dormancy.

If you like creating craft-art for the holidays, lend a critical eye to the material from your garden before it goes into composting. Sometimes a twisted stem or dried seedpod will make a great addition to a dinner centerpiece or a wreath for the door.

Spray painting gold, silver or an appropriate color can transform a plain branch to an elegant sculptural form. And with all the pine trees around, finding pinecones should be no effort at all.

Drying herbs or collecting flower and vegetable seeds and putting them in decorative little packages can provide little gifts as can canned vegetables or jams and jellies if you've had extra in your garden. Extra vegetables in a basket are welcome any time of the year as are flowers fresh from the garden.

Cleaning up the garden for winter can turn out to be useful and fun for you, family and friends.