
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
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Where to Find Free Compost: 4 Unlikely Places to Get Black Gold for Your Garden This Spring
Give your garden an instant boost with a batch of black gold! Here are 4 places to get free compost this spring that will help your plants thrive all season.
By Teo Spengler
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How to Amend Clay Soil for Healthier Gardens and Happier Plants: Your Garden Will Thank You
Clay soil can be hard to garden in, but you don't have to settle! Amending clay soil with organic matter can make drastic improvements. Learn how!
By Teo Spengler
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Start These 10 Vegetables in March for the Longest and Most Flavorful Season Yet
Spring is tapping on the door, so don’t get left behind if you want to sow these tasty staples. Here are 10 vegetables to plant in March, under glass and in the ground, to get the jump on year-long harvests
By Teo Spengler
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Pruning Basics: Why, When, and How to Prune for a Healthier Garden
Pruning isn't just about aesthetics – it’s vital for plant health. Learn how, why, and which way to prune to ensure your garden grows the best it can.
By Teo Spengler
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Soil Testing 101: What You Need To Know For a Flourishing Garden
Good soil equals good plants. Regular soil testing helps you better understand your soil and how you can improve it.
By Teo Spengler
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The Best Plants for Zone 10 Gardens – Perfect Picks for Garden Success
Zone 10 is a wonderful, tropical growing zone. Here are the best plants for zone 10 gardening.
By Teo Spengler
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Plant These 5 Trees as Bare Roots Before Winter's End – and Get Better Results for Less Money
Planting bare root trees and shrubs is a cost-effective way to get gorgeous specimen plants, but you need to act now. Bare roots need to be planted in dormancy.
By Teo Spengler
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There’s a Small Window to Stop Crabgrass Before It Starts Growing – Here’s the Exact Moment to Act
Crabgrass can quickly take over your lawn and is tough to battle once it gets going. Find out the best time to apply pre-emergent so it can't take hold.
By Teo Spengler
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Sick of Winter? Keep an Eye Out for These 6 First Flowers of Spring That Mean Winter Is Almost Over
You'll know winter is almost over when you start to see the first flowers of spring. Look for these 6 varieties that are surefire signs of the changing seasons.
By Teo Spengler
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Does Foil Around Plants Really Deter Pests? The Science Behind This Gardening Trick
Can this kitchen staple foil insects looking to chomp the plants your garden? Learn the ins and outs of using aluminum foil for pest prevention.
By Teo Spengler
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Is Your Houseplant Soil Repelling Water? The Simple Fix That Rehydrates Roots
Consistent watering isn't enough if your soil is hydrophobic. Follow our guide to restoring and keeping moisture retention.
By Teo Spengler
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6 Native Spring Ephemerals to Add Easy Beauty While the Rest of Your Garden Is Still Sleeping
These hardworking native spring ephemerals put on a show while most other plants are still sleeping underground. Add them to your garden for easy, early beauty.
By Teo Spengler
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This "Dark Chocolate" Mulch Could Be the Winter Secret to Fewer Weeds and Better Spring Borders
Imagine stepping into your yard and being greeted by the rich aroma of a chocolate shop? Find out why cocoa mulch is the nutrient-dense secret weapon you need to boost soil health before spring begins
By Teo Spengler
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6 Slow-Growing Flowers You Need to Start Early – Or They Won’t Bloom This Year (They’re Totally Worth the Wait)
Some of the most breathtaking performers refuse to be rushed. From the rose-like lisianthus to the honey-scented heliotrope, give these 6 slow-growing flowers a head start now to ensure your garden is draped in summer color
By Teo Spengler
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Sticky Leaves on Houseplants? These 3 Tiny Pests Could Be the Cause
Diagnose and destroy pests that are causing sticky leaves on houseplants. Then learn how to clean leaves the right way so they can keep growing strong.
By Teo Spengler
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Pruning Fig Trees – The Simple Healthy Cuts that Bring Years of Bountiful Harvests
The secret to the perfect fig is in your shears. A few strategic cuts turn a tangled thicket into a high-yielding masterpiece. Here’s how to master pruning fig trees
By Teo Spengler
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How to Propagate Succulents and Cacti: Everything You Need to Know
Learn how to propagate succulents and cacti like a pro. This complete guide covers all methods of propagation for guaranteed success.
By Teo Spengler
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Does Your Peace Lily Have Brown Tips? Here Are the 2 Most Common Causes & How to Fix Them
If your peace lily has brown tips, don't worry. There are two main reasons why this happens and both of them are easy to fix. Here's how.
By Teo Spengler

