Why November Is the Best Month to Plant a Tree in Las Cruces

Posted September 27, 2026

If you’re thinking about adding a tree this year, the short answer from NMSU’s own local extension office is: wait for November. It’s counterintuitive — most people associate planting with spring — but in southern New Mexico, fall is when trees actually get the best start.

What Does NMSU’s Doña Ana County Extension Say About Fall Planting?

Jeff Anderson, Agronomy and Horticulture Agent at the NMSU Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service, has explained the reasoning directly: November works because “the trees are dormant, the soils are still warm and the tree roots continue to grow throughout the winter” — before spring’s wind season arrives and starts stressing a young, newly-planted tree. A tree that goes in the ground in November spends the whole winter quietly building root mass with no leaves to support and no summer heat to fight, so by the time next June’s heat arrives, it’s already established rather than still settling in.

Why Does Fall Planting Beat Spring Planting in Las Cruces?

A tree planted in spring has to do two things at once: grow new roots and immediately cope with Las Cruces’s wind season and the fast ramp into summer heat. A tree planted in November does the root-growing part first, on its own schedule, months before it ever has to deal with either. Anderson’s guidance also flags a practical planning window: August is roughly the deadline to finalize which tree you want and where it’s going, so there’s time to source it before the November planting window opens.

What Actually Goes Into a Fall Tree Planting

Cooler weather doesn’t mean a new tree can be left alone once it’s in the ground — it still needs consistent, deep watering through fall and winter dry spells, just less often than a summer planting would. The hole size and backfill matter more than most people expect: dig too narrow or refill with pure topsoil instead of the native soil the roots will actually grow into, and a tree can sit there stunted for years. On a lot with caliche near the surface, that assessment has to happen before a planting hole goes in at all — see our caliche soil guide for how we test for it.

Does Every Tree Species Belong in Every Las Cruces Yard?

Choosing a species that will actually thrive here matters more than the planting date. A tree suited to a wetter, cooler climate is fighting the region’s soil and water reality from day one, no matter how well it’s planted. We size the right species to the specific lot — sun exposure, available water, mature size against nearby structures — as part of our Planting service, rather than defaulting to whatever’s easiest to source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does NMSU recommend November for tree planting in Las Cruces?

Because the tree is dormant, soils are still warm, and roots keep growing through winter — before spring wind and summer heat can stress a newly planted tree.

When should I pick out which tree I want to plant?

Around August, according to NMSU’s Doña Ana County Extension — that leaves time to source the tree before the November planting window opens.

Does a fall-planted tree need less water than a spring-planted one?

It still needs consistent, deep watering through fall and winter dry spells, just less frequently than a summer planting would require.

Get It in the Ground This Fall

If you’ve been meaning to add shade or a specimen tree to the yard, November is the window NMSU’s own local expert points to — and it’s already close. Get in touch to plan placement and species before the window closes for the season.

Source: Las Cruces Bulletin, quoting Jeff Anderson, NMSU Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service.

Written by the crew at Rooted Landscape Co.