Lots of plants do well here. I have palms and aspen in my yard if that tells you the diversity of what one can grow here.

Most colder climate Chihuahuan desert plants thrive here, while a select few from the Sonoran and Mojave will do OK here. Ocotillo is native just south of here at Isleta. By contrast, in the NE Heights and Foothills, aspen, fir, and spruce can do well on north facing shady sites or even in full sun as mine are. Trachycarpus fortunei is a bullet proof palm here as well. Many have been in the ground for many many years now.

Your landscape (and winter sun or lack thereof) really determines what you can grow. Snow can remain in the shade for literally weeks some years and with the lack of sun will kill many marginal plants. Siting is much more important here due to the extreme climate. I have seen 105+ here as well as below zero. 2 years ago we had 26 inches of snow in Sandia heights with something like 16 at the airport. These rare winter events will kill many non-natives. Hopefully, others can chime in. Search ABQ palms on google for interesting stuff. There is even a saguaro in town!

I live in a rural area about twenty miles south of Albuquerque. The only significant bug pest I have encountered is the squash boring bug. I think it is a beetle, but am not sure--strange looking creature and highly destructive in a produce garden. Rabbits are a garden problem in rural areas.

In the city I'm not sure invasive species are a big issue. In rural areas, Russian Olive trees and salt bush are considered invasive. The wild asters can take over, if they aren't kept in check. Then there are the typical things like morning glory, trumpet vine and Japanese honeysuckle.

The soil is probably alkaline, unless a previous owner did amendments. Adding organic materials would "normalize" the soil. If you plan to do a desert landscape, this is a moot point.

Good luck!
Lorna

Check out High Country Gardens. They are on the web and have a store in town. Lots of good info.

I live in Las Cruces and people insist on planting palms of all kinds. They are not native, require pruning of dead fronds, and not real stable when first planted. Personally, there are better choices such as southwest native yucca trees.

Great information, thanks much. I absolutely like the idea of Aspens, and a evergreen. The house once had a beautiful garden but was a rental for the last five years and of course is now back to bare earth, I have information for the owner to go get the soil tested first thing and of course I indend to have the entire yard amended with organic materials, and some good mulch. Im glad to know that the pest situation, like armadillos or roadrunners wont dig up things in the area.

If you plant aspens be sure to take good care of them and preferably plan in semi-shade areas or north facing parts of the home. They will do better there. Unless the person is a real avid gardener there are better trees for Albq., such as Mexican Buckeye. That said, I love the aspens too and baby mine.