
Teo Spengler
Raised in Alaska, where the sun never rises in the winter and the trees are stunted by permafrost, Teo Spengler fell in love with plants when she moved to California for college. Gardening became more of a passion than a pastime, as she studied horticulture and took master gardening courses. Spengler completed an intensive sixteen-week program to qualify as a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and has given public tours there for some years. She has also earned a BA in politics, an MA in English, an MFA in creative writing, and a JD from Berkeley Law School. She has written about nature, trees, plants, and gardening for 20 years for a variety of websites including Gardening Know How, Hunker, Home Guides, San Francisco Chronicle and Gardening Guides as well as publishing two novels, following a long career as an attorney and legal writer. Spengler currently splits her life between San Francisco and the French Basque Country where she has practiced her skills in both personal and public gardens for the past two decades. Her extended family includes some 30 houseplants and hundreds of outdoor plants, including 250 trees—mostly oaks, birches and beeches—that she planted on her land in France.
Latest articles by Teo Spengler
-
5 Houseplants That Actually Grow Better in Water Than Soil – Less Mess and Thriving Plants Await You When You Make the SwitchThese five houseplants will be happy growing in water; no complicated hydroponics systems needed! Learn how to help your houseplants thrive in water.
By Teo Spengler
-
How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally: Most Effective Eco-Friendly Ways to Banish Unwanted PestsAre your plants suddenly covered in tons of tiny pests? It may be time to learn how to get rid of aphids. Here are the best natural methods to try.
By Heather Rhoades
-
Tired of Your Plain Lawn? Try Tapestry Planting – These 7 Ground Covers Create a Living Carpet of Color With No Mowing or WeedingApril is the magic month to swap your high-maintenance grass for a stunning living tapestry lawn. Grow these 7 fragrant and colorful ground cover plants for a thriving, low-maintenance alternative to constant mowing, tired turf, and boring sward
By Teo Spengler
-
6 Weird Slug Hacks Gardeners Swear By – and Which Ones Actually WorkSlugs ruining your garden? Try these weird, but genius ways to banish them and save your crops!
By Teo Spengler
-
Sow These 7 Lovely Heritage Flowers for an Easy Yard Refresh – You Only Have to Plant These Self-Seeders Once to Fill Your Beds with Color Year After YearIf you’re looking for easy color but you also appreciate the finer things in life, these heritage flowers are a timeless treasure that will save you loads of future planting time
By Teo Spengler
-
6 Cheap and Clever Ways to Fill Containers – Plants Will Look Better Than Ever & You’ll Save Money on Potting SoilSave your money and your potting soil. These clever ways to fill your containers will keep your plants and your wallet happy.
By Teo Spengler
-
I Tried the 3 Most Popular DIY Weed Killers – Here’s What Actually Worked And How Best to Use ThemKeeping weeds at bay without the use of harsh chemicals is good for you and the environment. But not every natural weed control method is made equal.
By Teo Spengler
-
What to Do With Fruit Trees in April – 6 Essential Tasks for Your Biggest, Tastiest Harvest YetFrom nutrient boosts to pest patrol, discover what to do with fruit trees in April. Follow these 6 expert steps to ensure a healthy, productive summer harvest.
By Teo Spengler
-
Do This In April for Dazzling Clematis Flowers... Unless You Have This One Specific VarietyApril is the time to wake clematis vines up and get them growing. But how you do that depends on which type you have.
By Teo Spengler
-
HOA Making Gardening Difficult? A Lawyer Explains How Not to Make a Costly Mistake or Risk Removing Your Hard WorkAvoid HOA fines before you embark on landscaping projects. Even something as simple as a trellis could spell disaster.
By Teo Spengler
-
Do This to Roses in April for Your Biggest Blooms Yet: This Spring Wake-Up Will Kick Them into GearApril is when most roses leave their winter dormancy phase, so it's the perfect time to give them some extra attention. Here's exactly what you should be doing.
By Teo Spengler
-
Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea Brings Sweet, Color-Changing Blooms – Here’s How to Grow ItLearn how to care for a beautiful Strawberry Sundae hydrangea – the compact shrub that changes color throughout the season.
By Teo Spengler
-
What to Do with Japanese Maples in April – Prep Your Tree for a Spectacular SeasonApril is when Japanese maples are just waking up from their winter dormancy. Now's the time to pounce to ensure a successful year.
By Teo Spengler
-
These 7 Stunning Shade Plant Partners Prove Opposites Attract – They Dazzle in Limited LightPerfect plant partnerships can exist even in the shade! Here are 7 harmonious shade garden pairings that bring easy texture, color, drama and dynamism to quiet corners
By Teo Spengler
-
Watch Out for These Common Potato Diseases & Pests, If You Want a Healthy Harvest of SpudsDon't let potato diseases and pest ruin your crop of taters! Learn how to identify and combat the most common problems growing potatoes.
By Teo Spengler
-
6 Charming Coral Bells Varieties That Will Brighten Up Even the Shadiest GardenAdd whimsy and color to even the shadiest corners of your garden with one of these charming coral bells varieties.
By Teo Spengler
-
The Best Zone 9 Plants: Heat-Loving Picks That Will Truly Thrive in Your GardenHere are the best Zone 9 plants for your garden whether you need trees, perennials, shrubs, or more.
By Teo Spengler
-
10 Dazzling White Flowering Trees to Add Easy Elegance, Classic Harmony and Calming EnergyReady to elevate your curb appeal? Sophisticated, calming, and effortlessly chic, these 10 trees with white flowers can redefine your yard’s energy with epic snowy canopies
By Teo Spengler

