Recommended Plant List (click here)

The Recommended Plant List and Water Estimating Worksheet is an excellent starting point for choosing trees, shrubs, and plants suited for our high altitude, dry climate. Although the super sized landscape rodents seem to like just about anything which costs money, the list does provide some guidance regarding plants which may be "deer resistant". 

This list is constructed and maintained with the assistance of area landscapers, nurseries and garden enthusiasts. It is not intended to be exhaustive. There is no requirement that landscaping be limited to trees, shrubs, and plants which appear on the list.

Alto Lakes is in USDA growing zone 6

To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter. The indicated range of coldest winter temperatures for Alto Lakes is -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Links of interest

Albuquerque Water Dept - Water Conservation

Drip Irrigation for Home Gardeners

Drip Irrigation Tutorial

H₂Ouse Water Saver Home Tour

NMSU Water Task Force Reports

Residential Rainwater Catchment Systems

ZiaScapes Xeric Plant Guide