
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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These 4 Fall Flowering Trees Add Sublime Color and Showy Splendor to Any Yard
Autumn color is generally associated with vivid leaf tones – but you won’t regret saving some space for late-year bloomers. Here are 4 gorgeous fall flowering trees
By Teo Spengler
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As a Tree Expert, I Always Do These 4 Things for Stunning Fall Color on Japanese Maples – and Never Make These 2 Mistakes
If you want to guarantee the most dazzling displays with a Japanese maple in fall, here are 4 key things to do to guarantee success – and 2 things you need to avoid
By Teo Spengler
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Using a Leaf Blower Too Early Doesn't Just Bother Neighbors, It May Be Against the Law – Here's How to Avoid Trouble
Be a kind and courteous this fall. Don't blow leaves outside of these hours to keep neighbors happy and keep yourself out of trouble.
By Teo Spengler
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Signs a Tree or Shrub Isn't Happy – And How to Move It to a Better Spot
Does your tree or shrub look unhappy? Maybe all it needs is a change of scene.
By Teo Spengler
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NPK Demystified – Here's What the Numbers on Your Fertilizer Really Mean
NPK refers to the three macronutrients all plants need: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Learn all about NPK in fertilizer here.
By Tyler Schuster
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Don’t Miss Your Chance! This Is the Last Possible Time to Fertilize Your Lawn in Fall Before It’s Too Late
Don't let the best time to fertilize your lawn get away from you.
By Teo Spengler
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7 Evergreen Cuttings to Take in Fall for a Vibrant and Varied Four-Season Garden
Want to add extra dimensions to existing evergreens or create a new evergreen screen or privacy border? Take these evergreen cuttings in fall for a free boost to year-round shrubs
By Teo Spengler
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Fall Fruit Cane, Berry and Currant Planting – Plant These 5 in Autumn for the Ultimate Fruits
Some of the tastiest berries and currants are started off in autumn – so if you’re keen on fruit canes, berries and currant planting, here are 5 of the best fruits to plant in the fall
By Teo Spengler
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5 Fruit Trees I Always Prune Back After Harvesting Their Fruits – For Healthy Home Orchards and Future Crops
Fruit pruning isn’t always tied to dormancy. These 5 fruit trees can be pruned after their fruits are harvested. So once you’ve enjoyed your feast, grab your pruners!
By Teo Spengler
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Divide These 8 Perennials in September for More Plants in the Spring
Plants getting tired? September is the perfect time to divide and transplant perennials to give them a boost (and give you more plants).
By Teo Spengler
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7 Fall Lawn Care Tasks To Prioritize Before Winter – Plus When To Make The Last Cut
Put your yard to bed with these 7 fall lawn care tasks, including the final mow of the season.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
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Fertilize Grass In Fall For A Lush Lawn In Spring
For everything you need to know about fertilizing your lawn in the fall, click here.
By Teo Spengler
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7 Reblooming Azaleas to Grow for a Fall Garden Bursting With Beautiful Color
These reblooming azaleas will give you a second show of color in the fall. Plant one of these 7 beauties for a garden that shines all year long!
By Teo Spengler
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How to Start Your First Native Plant Garden: The 4 Must-Have Elements for Success
Starting a native flower garden doesn't have to be scary. Just make sure you have these 4 things and you'll be on your way!
By Teo Spengler
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Lawn Fertilizer Tips: When And How To Apply Lawn Fertilizer
A green carpet of lawn isn’t one plant – it’s a collection of some 850 grass plants per square foot, and each one requires nutrients to stay healthy.
By Teo Spengler
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Ultimate Guide To Lawn Aeration: How & When To Do It For A Healthier Lawn
Want to keep your lawn feeling healthy and looking great? Try aerating it. We'll go over the benefits and tell you how to do it.
By Teo Spengler
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All About Fall Bird Migration: Why Birds Fly South After Summer & Which Ones to Watch for This Fall
As the fall bird migration begins, let's explore why they are flying south and how you can help them on their journey by making your garden more bird-friendly.
By Teo Spengler
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Grow These 6 Fragrant Native Plants for Low Maintenance, Pollinator Friendly Flowers and Shrubs to Fill Your Garden with Scent
Support your local ecosystem and simplify your growing with these 6 fragrant native plants – ideal for a thriving pollinator friendly garden that is filled with aromatic bliss
By Teo Spengler

