Early Spring Planting Guide
- Mar 19
- 4 min read
March is a great time to plant many heat-tolerant plants that will thrive through our long Southern New Mexico summers, and we have a planting guide full of specific desert-loving plants for our area just for you!
Time to Plant Early Spring Desert Landscaping Favorites
Get your garden beds, shrubs, and flowering plants in the ground now so they can establish strong roots before the intense Southern New Mexico heat arrives. Want to hire us to plant them for you? We can! Also, did you know that we are licensed to sell you plants? This means that you can shop plants, tell us which plants you want and where you’d like them planted in your yard, and we will provide the plants AND plant them for you where you want them planted in your home or business yard!
Living in Las Cruces means landscaping a little differently than other parts of the country. Our high desert climate brings intense sun, low humidity, and periods of drought. As you know, that doesn’t mean your yard can’t be beautiful! With the right plants, your property can stay colorful, low-maintenance, and water-efficient year-round.
Early spring - right now in March - is one of the best times to plant. The soil is warming up, nights are still cool, and plants have time to establish roots before the hottest months arrive.
Below are some excellent plants that perform well in Las Cruces and the surrounding Southern New Mexico desert landscape:
Roses
Roses are one of the most popular flowering plants in Las Cruces yards, and early spring is the perfect time to plant them. They love the bright sun we get here and can produce beautiful blooms through much of the growing season.
Roses prefer well-drained soil and benefit from deep watering rather than frequent shallow watering. Adding mulch around the base helps keep moisture in the soil and protects roots from extreme temperatures.
Many homeowners and property owners prune roses in late winter or early spring to encourage strong growth and better flowering throughout the year.
Texas Sage (Purple Sage)
Texas sage is a desert landscaping favorite across Southern New Mexico. This hardy shrub features soft silvery leaves and beautiful purple flowers that often bloom after rain or humidity.
It thrives in full sun, requires very little water once established, and tolerates our hot summers extremely well. Texas sage is commonly used as a decorative hedge or natural privacy screen.
Red Yucca
Red yucca is one of the best accent plants for desert landscapes. It produces tall flower stalks with coral-red blooms that attract hummingbirds throughout the warm months.
Despite its name, red yucca is not a true yucca and has softer leaves. It handles heat, drought, and poor soils with very little maintenance.
Desert Willow
Desert willow is a small ornamental tree that grows beautifully in Las Cruces landscapes. It produces trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink and purple during late spring and summer.
This tree grows quickly, provides light shade, and handles drought conditions once established. It’s a great option for homeowners and business property owners wanting a flowering tree that fits naturally into a desert landscape.
Lantana
Lantana is one of the toughest flowering plants you can add to your yard. It produces clusters of bright flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple.
It loves heat, tolerates drought, and blooms heavily throughout the summer months. Lantana works well in garden beds, borders, and even containers.
Agave
Agave plants are iconic in desert landscaping and require very little maintenance. Their bold shapes make them perfect focal points for rock landscapes and xeriscaping designs.
They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and require minimal watering once established.
Lavender
Lavender grows surprisingly well in Las Cruces when planted in well-drained soil with plenty of sun. It adds fragrance, soft color, and pollinator activity to your landscape.
Plant lavender in early spring (NOW) so it has time to establish before summer heat. Avoid overwatering, as desert soils that drain well help lavender thrive.
Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Penstemon is a native wildflower that does extremely well in Southern New Mexico. It produces tall spikes of colorful blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
These plants are well adapted to desert climates and add beautiful spring color to natural desert landscapes.
Early Spring - NOW - is the Best Time to Plant!
March is ideal for planting many shrubs, flowers, and desert trees in Las Cruces. Planting now gives roots time to grow before summer heat arrives.
If you’re planning to refresh your yard, install new plants, or start a drought-friendly desert landscape, this is the perfect time to get started.
AM Lawn Services can help you select plants that thrive in Southern New Mexico and install them properly so they grow strong and healthy.
Provide us your information and a preferred date for your in-person consultation today:
—
AM Lawn Services is a commercial and residential yard care services company local to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We proudly serve our Las Cruces neighbors and those in surrounding Southern New Mexico communities.
We take the legitimacy of our business and the trust with our customers seriously. That's why we're insured and licensed.
We were incorporated in the summer of 2025 to provide locals with a reliable, top-quality option for high desert yard care services to meet all your outdoor needs, including pressure washing and water irrigation systems like drip and sprinklers. Ask us about our Annual Yard Care Plan! Visit our website for a full List of Services and to complete our customer intake form: amlawnserv.com. You can also call us at 575-468-0177.
