Master Gardener Hotline

Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer your gardening and landscape questions every Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Master Gardener Hotline. Call: 575-525-6649

The Hotline is your pipeline to science-based horticultural information tailored to Southern New Mexico's climate and soils:

What turf grasses are best for lawns and how much should you water them?
What landscape plants are "water-wise"?
What shade trees thrive in our region?
What varieties of vegetables will be successful in summer and winter gardens?
What can you do about plant diseases and insect pests?

Master Gardeners, with assistance from the County Agronomy and Horticulture Extension Agent and New Mexico State University Extension Specialists, will help you identify specific plant diseases or pests that are affecting your landscape and give you the information to help you solve the problems that they cause. You may bring an insect specimen or diseased plant sample for identification to the County Extension Office at 530 N. Church Street. Or you may e-mail a high-quality digital photograph to dagarden@nmsu.edu.

It is a good idea to test your soil so that you will know if you need specific amendments for the plants that you want to grow. Soil tests are done by the Soil, Water and Air Testing Lab (S.W.A.T. Lab) at New Mexico State University. For Soil Testing, you may obtain a form from the Extension Office or get one online. Complete information on how to obtain a soil sample is included on the form.

The Master Gardeners periodically provide gardening publications and related information at the Saturday Las Cruces Farmers and Craft Market. Look for our booth near COAS Bookstore on the downtown mall.