
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 several 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 more than two decades for publications including Gardening Know How, Hunker, Home Guides, the San Francisco Chronicle and Gardening Guides, as well as publishing two novels. Before focusing on gardening, Spengler had a long career as an attorney and legal writer – experience she now also brings to her role as Gardening Know How’s Gardening Lawyer.
Spengler currently splits her life between San Francisco and the French Basque Country, where she has practised 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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7 Seeds That Need Light to Germinate and 8 Types That Require Absolute Darkness – or They’ll Never SproutProviding the proper lighting conditions is essential for good germination. Find out which seeds need light and which ones need dark to sprout.
By Teo Spengler
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Gardeners Beware! These 6 Plants Could Get You in Legal Trouble – What You Need to Know Before You GrowDon't even think about growing these illegal plants. Steer clear of the law by avoiding these invasive, patented, or psychoactive varieties.
By Teo Spengler
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This Simple 3-Ring Method Will Help You Pest-Proof Your Vegetable Garden for Better Harvests With Fewer BugsDon't let bugs ruin all your vegetable garden dreams. Utilize a layered approach to your pest control for the best results.
By Teo Spengler
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6 Tough Trees That Can Handle Whatever the Weather Throws at ThemYou don't have to sacrifice good looks to get a tree that will survive all the wild weather we get. All these beauties are as tough as they come…
By Teo Spengler
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How to Propagate a Magnolia Tree – All about Air Layering and Rooting CuttingsWant another magnolia tree? How about ten? Propagating magnolias is simple as long as you know what you're doing.
By Teo Spengler
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5 Best Roses for Cutting Gardens – for Long-Lasting Blooms That Look Equally Beautiful in Bouquets and Garden BedsLong stems, cut blooms that last for weeks in a vase, and intoxicating fragrance... You can't beat these five gorgeous types of roses for cutting gardens.
By Teo Spengler
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9 Common Backyard Birds of the Pacific NorthwestIf you live in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho, you may already know some of these beautiful backyard birds. Do you recognize them all?
By Teo Spengler
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Lawn Care 101: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Lush, Vibrant GrassWant the greenest grass on the block? This lawn care guide has everything from seeding to dethatching. It's your one-stop-shop for thick grass that's oh-so-walkable.
By Teo Spengler
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What You Do to Azaleas in May Can Make or Break Next Year's Blooms – 5 Tasks You Must Do Now Before SummerIf you don't do anything else in your garden this month, make sure you complete these tasks to ensure your azaleas bloom beautifully again next spring.
By Teo Spengler
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How to Prune a Lilac Bush for a Massive Amount of Fragrant Spring BloomsWant to keep your lilac blooming its best? Follow these essential pruning guidelines for a full shrub and tons of flowers.
By Nikki Tilley
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Want More of Your Favorite Plants for Free? Divide These 7 Perennials in May to Double Your Blooms This YearIf you’re looking for easy ways to multiply your garden favorites, the easy answer is to divide them. Here are the perennials to split in May for better plant health, free flowers, and an easy high-impact border
By Teo Spengler
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Got Aphids? Lucky You! The Surprising Benefits of Finding Pests on Your PlantsAphids might not be that bad after all.
By Teo Spengler
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How to Make Compost Tea for a Fast-Acting Organic Fertilizer That Gives Plants a Huge Boost of NutrientsCompost tea is a fast-acting and organic way to give plants a boost. Plus, it’s cheap and easy to make. Here’s how to brew your own compost tea at home.
By Tyler Schuster
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Don’t Miss the May Hummingbird Window – These 6 Easy Additions Help Them Nest and Thrive in Your BackyardGet ready for a summer of hummers! Discover ideas to encourage nesting and provide high-energy food to keep hummingbirds in your yard all season long.
By Teo Spengler
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Want to Cheer Up a Shady Wall Fast? These 7 Fragrant Climbers Will Quickly Transform a Dull Corner into a Lush Oasis of Color and ScentThink your shady wall is destined to be dull? Think again, as these fast-growing climbers boost the darkest corners of your yard and turn gloomy into glamorous with gorgeous fragrance, color, and lush privacy screening
By Teo Spengler
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What to Do With Apple Trees in May – 5 Critical Tasks to Ensure a Healthy and Bountiful Harvest in the Months to ComeDon't skip these apple care tasks! A few easy chores in May will help the trees to thrive so you'll get a tasty harvest when the time is right.
By Teo Spengler
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Don’t Recycle That Old Mason Jar – Try These 9 Clever Ways to Reuse Old Mason Jars in the Garden and Save MoneyMason jars can live on in many ways in the garden. Here are some creative upcycling projects you can try!
By Teo Spengler
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If Pests Destroyed Your Squash Last Summer, Plant This One Weird Vegetable to Lure Them Away and Protect Your HarvestThere's one vegetable that common squash pests can't resist. Grow it just outside your garden to entice them away and keep your precious plants safe.
By Teo Spengler

