The majority of Chaves County's residents are urban, so there is high interest in information on planting trees and ornamental gardening; safe and efficient home vegetable gardening; reducing water use; insect identification and management; environmental safety; maintenance of home gardens and landscape development around businesses and homes. The County Extension Agents assist residents with urban horticulture problems, insect control, wildlife damage control, and soil analysis -by phone, office visits, site visits, and e-mail.

Upcoming Events

Urban Horticulture Symposium

Join us each fall for the SE Urban Horticulture Syposium. The SE Urban Horticulture Symposium is a regional educational event organized through the collaboration of the five southeastern NM NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Offices and their Master Gardener volunteer programs.  The symposium is designed to provide homeowners, gardners, landscape enthusiasts, and horticulture professionals with practical, research-based information for gardening and landscaping in the challenging climate of southeastern NM. 

SE Urban Horticulture Symposium Impacts

Join us in Hobbs for 2026.

• New Mexico State University Horticulture Publications

Pecan Production For Backyard Growers

Chaves County produces approximately 4 million pounds of pecans annually on 4000 acres in the Pecos Valley. The county has both large and small orchards, plus numerous backyard growers.

• New Mexico State University Pecan Home Page

• Guide H-602: Pecan Orchard Fertilization

• Guide H-608: Planting Pecan Trees

• Guide H-639: Pecan Varieties for NM
  This publication is out-of-date. Disclaimer: Out of date publications are provided as a historical record only. Information contained in these publications may not be current, and readers are advised to consult a professional before using this information.

• University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service
  Pecan Production Guidelines For Small Orchards and Home Yards (AZ 1400)

Composting

• Guide H-110: Backyard Composting

• Guide H-164: Vermicomposting

Lawns/Turf

• Guide H-507: Lawn Care for Disease Control

• Guide H-508: Turfgrasses for NM

• Guide H-509: Turfgrass Establishment

• Guide H-707: Landscape Water Conservation

Pruning

• Guide H-156: Tree Pruning Techniques

• Guide H-303: Pruning Grapes

• Guide H-327: Pruning the Home Orchard

Soil Preparation

• Guide A-114: Test Your Soils

• Circular 676: Interpreting Soil Tests

• Circular 687: Managing Organic Matter in Farm and Garden Soils

• Guide H-119: Determining Amounts of Fertilizer for Small Areas

Trees

• Guide H-426: Shade Trees for NM

• Guide H-328: Selecting Ornamental Trees for NM

• New Mexico State Forestry Division - Seedling Program
  The Forestry Division offers over 50 different species for sale over the course of the fall and spring sales. These seedlings are sold in small containers, large containers and bareroot. The website includes the seedling list; planting instructions and care; and ordering restrictions.

• Circular 532: Growing Pistachios in NM

Vegetable Gardening

• Circular 457: Home Vegetable Gardening in NM

• Circular 457B: Growing Zones, Recommended Crop Varieties for Home Vegetable Gardens

• Circular 483: Growing Grapes in NM

• Guide H-106: Curly Top Virus