Now is the time to think about planting a tree to beat next summer’s heat!

While July was the optimal time to plant Cole Crops (cabbage, kale, cauliflower, etc.) for fall harvest – if you hurry, you can still get some in before the end of August – now is the perfect time to pick out a tree or trees to plant later this year, said NMSU Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service Agronomy and Horticulture Agent Jeff Anderson.

Making tree-buying plans now will allow you to research the best kind of tree to buy for the local climate. It will also give you time to decide where to plant the tree(s) and how to care for it, and it might save you some money if you can find your tree at a discounted or end-of-year rate, Anderson said.

When your arboriculture plans are made and the tree(s) are purchased, November is the best time to begin planting, he said. This is because in southern New Mexico we have a mild climate, the trees are dormant, the soils are still warm and the tree roots continue to grow throughout the winter and take off before the windy season begins next spring.

A couple of Anderson’s recommendations for the best trees to purchase for the southern New Mexico climate are oaks, like Texas Red/or Escarpment Live Oak, and Chinese Pistache and/or “Red Push” Pistache. These are all drought tolerant and create lots of shade, he said.

Anderson is also very fond of palm trees, which he said come in a variety of species that put down deep roots and thrive in local weather conditions, including the Mediterranean Fan Palm, Riverside/or Mexican Sables, Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) and Brahea armata, the Mexican Blue Palm.

Anderson said fig trees like Petite Negre (a dwarf fig), Brown Turkey or Mission Figs also grow well locally and produce fruit. However, you may need to protect them from cold snaps for the first year or two.

“And don’t forget how well Pomegranates do here,” he said. “Consider either of the cultivars ‘Wonderful’, or ‘Angel Red’ for their wonderful fruity seeds to make the seasonal specialty, ‘Chiles en Nogada’ in the fall. (visit www.mexicanfoodjournal.com/chiles-en-nogada/.)  

Anderson said home gardeners can expect to pay about $40 for a tree in a five-gallon container and $60-$90 for a tree in a 15-gallon container. Bigger isn’t always better, he said. Starting out with a smaller tree that has a good root system may be the best way to go.

For more tips on trees and a wide range of other gardening information, look for Southwest Yard and Garden online (www.aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/archives/ and www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCEE40E3D85E3F27B). Articles and videos cover everything concerning plants, from identifying insects/disease problems to articles on how to pick your new plants/trees.

“I personally like the articles/videos on keeping your plants healthy in our desert climate,” Anderson said.