Local Water & Landscaping Resources
Some of the most useful information for landscaping in Las Cruces isn’t something we’re selling — it’s already public, free, and worth knowing about directly. This page collects the real local resources we point people to most often.
What Does the City of Las Cruces Water Conservation Program Offer?
The City runs an active water conservation program, not just a watering ordinance on paper. It includes:
- A dedicated Water Conservation Program Coordinator who can help with questions about water use, and who handles requests for a variance to the outdoor watering ordinance when there’s a legitimate need.
- Free “Water Wise Landscaping” workshops, open to residents, covering water-wise landscaping, irrigation, and gardening topics.
- A public demonstration garden showcasing low-water and desert-adapted plants — genuinely worth a visit in person before deciding what to plant, since seeing a mature xeriscape planting is more useful than any plant list.
Contact the Water Conservation Program directly at 575-528-3549 for questions, workshop schedules, or ordinance variance requests. Full program details are on the City of Las Cruces Water Conservation page. Our own summary of the actual watering schedule — which days you can water and what hours apply during summer — is on our Xeriscaping page.
What Does NMSU Extension Offer for Las Cruces Landscaping?
NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service publishes free, research-based guidance specific to New Mexico growing conditions — caliche soil, xeriscape principles, plant selection, and more. Several of our own service pages cite NMSU Extension guides directly (our Xeriscaping and Landscape Design pages both reference specific NMSU publications on caliche soil and xeriscape principles). If you want to go deeper than what’s on our pages, NMSU’s own publications are the primary source.
Why Do We Point You to These Resources Instead of Just Our Own Pages?
A lot of what determines whether a Las Cruces yard succeeds — the watering ordinance, the soil conditions, what actually grows here — isn’t proprietary information, and treating it that way wouldn’t serve you well. We’d rather you understand the real constraints and resources available, whether or not that specific piece of information came from us.
Who Do I Call for Las Cruces Water Conservation Questions?
The City’s Water Conservation Program Coordinator, reachable at 575-528-3549, for questions about water use, workshop schedules, or outdoor watering ordinance variance requests.
Is There a Demonstration Garden for Desert-Adapted Plants in Las Cruces?
Yes — the City runs a public demonstration garden showcasing low-water and desert-adapted plants, worth visiting in person before deciding what to plant.
If you’d rather have someone else do the research and the work, get in touch for a site visit.
Written by the crew at Rooted Landscape Co.