Tree & Shrub Trimming

Tree Trimming in Las Cruces, NM: Healthy Cuts for Desert Trees, Shrubs and Palms

Mesquite limbs hanging over the roof, a palo verde that snapped in the last monsoon wind, or shrubs sheared into sad little boxes? We prune trees, shrubs and palms the right way, at the right time of year, and haul every branch away.

Most tree trimming in Las Cruces runs $250 to $700 per tree. Shrub trimming from $5 to $35 per plant. Free estimate.

Landscaping Las Cruces NM - fresh red mulch flower bed with shrubs and curved concrete edging
  • Proper cuts, never topping
  • Timed for desert seasons
  • All debris hauled away
  • Written price before we start

Quick answer

How much does tree trimming cost in Las Cruces?

Tree trimming in Las Cruces usually costs $250 to $700 per tree for trees up to about 30 feet, which covers most mesquite, palo verde, desert willow and fruit trees in local yards. Taller trees run $600 to $1,200. Shrub trimming costs about $5 to $35 per plant, and palm trimming $100 to $900 depending on height.

Price depends on height, how much deadwood or crossing growth there is, how close the tree is to the roof, fence or power lines, and how much debris we haul. Your quote lists every tree.

Signs a tree or shrub needs work

  • Branches rubbing the roof, walls or stucco
  • Dead, cracked or hanging limbs
  • Canopy so dense wind can’t pass through
  • Limbs over the driveway, sidewalk or street
  • Shrubs blocking windows, walks or sightlines
  • Suckers and water sprouts all over the trunk

Limbs touching power lines? Don’t cut them yourself. Call El Paso Electric or let us tell you who should handle it.

What we trim

Tree and shrub services for Las Cruces yards

Desert trees grow fast when they get water and break when monsoon winds hit a heavy canopy. Good pruning keeps them strong, shapely and off your roof.

Canopy thinning before monsoon

We open up dense mesquite, palo verde and elm canopies so summer gusts pass through instead of snapping limbs.

Deadwood and hazard limbs

Dead, cracked, rubbing and low-hanging branches removed with clean cuts at the branch collar.

Roof, wall and walkway clearance

Limbs lifted off roofs, gutters, fences and driveways, and raised for safe walking under the tree.

Shrub shaping, not shearing

Texas sage, oleander, Apache plume and other shrubs pruned to their natural shape so they keep blooming.

Palm trimming

Dead fronds and seed stalks removed from fan and date palms, without over-skinning the trunk.

Removal, stumps and haul-away

Small tree removal, stump grinding and all branches loaded and hauled off the same day.

2026 price guide

Tree and shrub trimming prices in Las Cruces

Service

Typical cost

What changes the price

Small tree trimming (under 15 ft)

$150 to $400

Species, deadwood, access

Medium tree trimming (15 to 30 ft)

$250 to $700

Canopy density, roof or fence clearance

Large tree trimming (30 to 60 ft)

$600 to $1,200

Height, equipment, rigging

Palm tree trimming

$100 to $900

Height and number of fronds

Shrub trimming

$5 to $35 per shrub

Size, thorns, number of plants

Hedge trimming

$25 to $60 per 10 ft

Height, width, haul-away

Small tree removal

$400 to $1,200+

Size, location, stump

Stump grinding

$100 to $400

Diameter and roots

Storm damage cleanup

Quoted on site

Broken limbs, urgency, debris volume

Ranges based on HomeGuide 2026 tree trimming costs (up to 30 ft $250–$700; 30–60 ft $600–$1,200; shrubs $5–$35; hedges $25–$60 per 10 ft; palms $100–$900), adjusted for Las Cruces. Your price is written before we start.

Bundle and save a trip

Most yards have more than one tree. Doing all your trees and shrubs in one visit costs less than separate calls, because setup and haul-away are shared.

  • One trip, one crew, one dump run
  • Shrubs and trees shaped together
  • Combine with a yard cleanup

A typical pre-monsoon visit

Example: a Picacho Hills backyard with two mesquites over the patio, one desert willow and eight overgrown Texas sage. Thinning the mesquites ($500–$1,000), shaping the desert willow ($150–$300), natural-shape pruning on the sage ($80–$200) and haul-away. That comes to about $730 to $1,500, done in one day.

Illustration of how we price. Your yard and total will differ.

Timing

When to prune trees and shrubs in Las Cruces

Timing matters more in the desert than almost anywhere. Heavy pruning in the June heat stresses trees and exposes bark to sunscald. This is the calendar we follow.

Plant

Best time

Why

Deciduous shade trees (ash, elm, pistache, fruit)

January to March

Dormant; cuts close fast in spring (NMSU)

Mesquite, palo verde, desert willow

Late spring, before July

Thin canopies ahead of monsoon winds

Palms

Early summer, after flowering

Remove dead fronds and seed stalks

Spring-flowering shrubs

Right after they bloom

Keeps next year’s flowers

Texas sage, summer bloomers

Late winter

Shape before new growth

Dead, broken or hazard limbs

Any time

Safety first

Low-maintenance shrub border with dark mulch along a brick home

Shrubs pruned to their natural shape bloom better and need trimming less often than sheared “boxes.”

Doing it right

Good pruning vs. the kind that hurts your trees

What we do

What we avoid

Cuts

Just outside the branch collar, no stubs

Flush cuts into the trunk

Height

Reduce to a side branch when needed

Topping, which grows weak, bushy regrowth

Amount

Remove only what the tree needs

Stripping out most of the canopy

Wounds

Leave cuts to close naturally

Pruning paint or sealant

Shrubs

Selective thinning, natural shape

Shearing into balls and boxes

Pruning cuts, topping and wound-dressing guidance from NMSU Extension Guide H-156, “Tree Pruning Techniques.”

Myth vs. fact

“Topping makes a tree safer.”

Fact: topping triggers clusters of weakly attached sprouts that break more easily, shortens the tree’s life and needs constant upkeep. Thinning and reduction cuts are safer.

Myth vs. fact

“Seal every cut with pruning paint.”

Fact: NMSU notes that sealants can slow wound closure. A clean cut at the branch collar heals best on its own.

How it works

Our tree and shrub trimming process

You know what we’ll cut, and what it costs, before the first branch comes down.

1

Walkthrough

We look at each tree and shrub, check clearances and point out any hazards.

2

Written plan

What we’ll trim on each plant, and an itemized price.

3

Protect the yard

Tarps over beds and rock, and care around drip lines, pavers and fences.

4

Prune and shape

Clean cuts, natural shapes, deadwood and hazard limbs out.

5

Haul and clean

Every branch loaded and hauled off, walks and patios blown clean.

Local know-how

What we’ve learned trimming Las Cruces trees

Monsoon wind

Dense, top-heavy canopies catch summer gusts like a sail. Thinning before July prevents most split trunks we see.

Thorny trees

Mesquite, palo verde and acacia have thorns that shred skin and tires. We cut, bundle and haul them carefully.

Watering and roots

Over-watered mesquite grows fast and weak. We’ll tell you if your drip schedule is behind a tree’s breakage.

Sunscald

Stripping a canopy exposes bark to our intense sun. We leave enough foliage to shade the trunk and main limbs.

Power lines

Trees near lines are the utility’s job or a line-clearance crew’s. We’ll tell you honestly when it’s not ours to cut.

Siberian elm and suckers

Fast-spreading elm seedlings and root suckers pop up in rock beds. We remove them before they become trees.

Service area

Tree trimming across Las Cruces and Doña Ana County

We trim trees, shrubs and palms in Las Cruces, Mesilla, University Park, Doña Ana, Fairacres, Organ and Talavera, including Sonoma Ranch, Picacho Hills, East Mesa and Metro Verde.

Why homeowners call us

  • We explain every cut before we make it
  • All branches hauled away the same day
  • On time, with a text before we arrive
  • Written, itemized price

Tree and shrub trimming FAQs

Most tree trimming in Las Cruces costs $250 to $700 per tree for trees up to about 30 feet. Trees 30 to 60 feet run $600 to $1,200, shrubs about $5 to $35 each, and palms $100 to $900 depending on height.

NMSU recommends January to March for most deciduous trees while they are dormant. Desert trees like mesquite and palo verde are best thinned in late spring, before monsoon winds arrive in July. Dead or dangerous limbs can be removed any time.

No. Topping causes weak, crowded regrowth that breaks easily and shortens the tree’s life. Reduction cuts back to a side branch lower the height safely.

No. NMSU Extension advises against pruning paint or sealants because they can slow wound closure. A clean cut just outside the branch collar heals best.

Branches touching or near power lines should be handled by the utility or a line-clearance crew. We’ll look at it and tell you who should do the work.

Thin the canopy in late spring so wind can pass through, remove crossing and weak limbs, and avoid overwatering, which makes mesquite grow fast and brittle.

Yes. Every job includes loading and hauling all branches and debris. You don’t need to wait for a City grappler date.

Yes. We remove dead fronds and seed stalks from fan and date palms and avoid over-trimming, which weakens the palm.

Yes, for small and medium trees. Small tree removal typically costs $400 to $1,200 or more, and stump grinding $100 to $400.

Get your trees in shape before the next storm

Tell us about your trees and shrubs. We’ll walk the yard with you and give you a written, itemized price.

  • We call back the same business day
  • Free, written, itemized estimates
  • One-time jobs welcome; no contract
  • Serving Las Cruces, Mesilla and Doña Ana County

Las Cruces Landscaping Group
1921 Santa Ines Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011
(575) 270-0676. Mon to Sat, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Request a Free Estimate

Takes under a minute. We’ll call you back today.