Articles by Teo Spengler - Page 3

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

So You're Trying to Grow Organic, But Your Neighbors Use Chemicals – Here’s How to Keep Your Garden Green & Avoid Drama

You grow a pristine organic garden, but your neighbor sprays every weed with chemicals. Here's the right way to talk to them, plus tips to protect your plants.

a Japanese maple in fall with bright red leaves

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

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Teo Spengler

Latest articles by Teo Spengler

So You're Trying to Grow Organic, But Your Neighbors Use Chemicals – Here’s How to Keep Your Garden Green & Avoid Drama

Want to Grow More Trees and Shrubs for Free? Collect These 7 Seeds Now to Plant in Spring

8 Must-Have Japanese Maple Varieties for Gorgeous Foliage This Fall

5 Best Ways To Get Rid Of Leaves Without A Rake – Quickest & Easiest Leaf Clean Up Methods To Try This Fall

I’m a Tree Expert – Here Are 7 Landscaping Rules I Always Follow Around Trees (and the Mistakes I Avoid)

Add Some Fall Sparkle to Dull Corners: 5 Shade-Loving Shrubs and Trees for Sizzling Autumnal Foliage

Neighbor’s Weeds Taking Over Your Garden? A Lawyer Shares Expert Tips on How to Talk to Neighbors & What You Can (and Can't) Do

7 Deer-Resistant Spring Bulbs That Keep Your Garden Safe from Grazing

Should You Leave the Leaves This Fall? Why Leaf Litter Could Actually Help Your Yard (And When to Bag It Up)

These 4 Fall Flowering Trees Add Sublime Color and Showy Splendor to Any Yard

As a Tree Expert, I Always Do These 4 Things for Stunning Fall Color on Japanese Maples – and Never Make These 2 Mistakes

Using a Leaf Blower Too Early Doesn't Just Bother Neighbors, It May Be Against the Law – Here's How to Avoid Trouble

Signs a Tree or Shrub Isn't Happy – And How to Move It to a Better Spot

NPK Demystified – Here's What the Numbers on Your Fertilizer Really Mean

Don’t Miss Your Chance! This Is the Last Possible Time to Fertilize Your Lawn in Fall Before It’s Too Late

7 Evergreen Cuttings to Take in Fall for a Vibrant and Varied Four-Season Garden

Fall Fruit Cane, Berry and Currant Planting – Plant These 5 in Autumn for the Ultimate Fruits

5 Fruit Trees I Always Prune Back After Harvesting Their Fruits – For Healthy Home Orchards and Future Crops

7 Spring-Flowering Bulbs I Plant Every Fall for a Sensational Display That Lasts for Months

Divide These 8 Perennials in September for More Plants in the Spring