
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 passtime, 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. 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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Indoor Eucalyptus Plants: Complete Care And Growing Guide
Imagine an indoor eucalyptus plant as fragrant and pretty as tall eucalyptus trees, but small enough to grace your interior.
By Teo Spengler
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How To Identify Poison Ivy To Prevent A Painful Rash – Plus, Common Lookalike Plants
One mistake you don’t want to make is not knowing what poison ivy and oak look like. Learn about the differences in some poisonous plants to avoid.
By Caroline Bloomfield
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Japanese Aralia Care: How To Grow Fatsia Japonica
The large, showy, tropical leaves may imply that Japanese aralia care is a challenge, but given the right environment, it’s a show-stopper and easy to grow.
By Jackie Carroll
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Small Palm Trees For Even The Tiniest Yards And Gardens
Small palm trees add beauty and drama to small space gardens, giving them a tropical ambiance. Learn how to choose the best mini palm trees.
By Liz Baessler
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How To Use Less Plastic: 5 Ways To Go Greener In Your Garden
Data on how our overuse of plastic is harming the planet may leave you wondering how to use less plastic. Here are ideas for reduced plastic use in the garden.
By Teo Spengler
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Want a Backyard Mini Orchard? Create Your Own Container Orchard
Easier to care for in small spaces, a backyard mini-orchard makes sense for busy gardeners and juicy fruit is the reward.
By Teo Spengler
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Give Compost A Pick Me Up: How To Use Coffee Grounds On Plants In The Garden
Coffee is not just a mood booster for people – it can also give your garden a helping hand if applied correctly. We show you how to add coffee grounds on plants so they flourish
By Teo Spengler
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Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low Light
Some apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
By Teo Spengler
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Crops for Urban Growing: 8 Edible Plants For Urban Gardens
Urban edible gardening lets your yard do double duty of beauty and practicality. Have fun combining edible plants with ornamentals.
By Teo Spengler
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Identifying Common Tree Pests & Diseases: How To Protect Your Trees
Any number of problems can befall a tree, but these 6 pests and diseases are at the top of the list.
By Teo Spengler
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Best Fruit Trees To Grow Indoors: Bring More Fruit Undercover
Knowing the best fruit trees to grow indoors can expand your potential range of fruit harvests – and add interest and color to indoor spaces. We show you how to make more of fruit trees undercover
By Teo Spengler
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What Is Horticultural Oil – How It Helps You Grow Healthier Plants
Learn about what horticultural oil is, when and where to use it and its benefits as a safe alternative to toxic chemical insecticides.
By Teo Spengler
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Cheap Indoor Plants To Add To Your Collection
Don’t pay premium prices when you can find affordable house plants. Propagate some, get some leftovers from neighbors and buy discounted plants.
By Teo Spengler
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When To Clean Up Garden Beds In Spring To Protect Pollinators
Every spring, I'm reminded that many species of insects have used my garden as a winter hotel and may not be ready for a wake-up call just yet.
By Teo Spengler
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Which 7 Types of Cypress Are Best to Grow?
There are numerous types of cypress trees. From tall, majestic rows that grow throughout Italy to the bright bushy lemon varieties, there’s one that suits your region best.
By Teo Spengler
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Invasive Buckthorn – How To Get Rid Of Common Buckthorn Bushes
Identify and eliminate the invasive and noxious buckthorn plants growing in your yard.
By Teo Spengler
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Poison Oak Removal: Learn How To Get Rid Of Poison Oak Plants
Poison oak growing near your home can be disturbing. Unfortunately, getting rid of poison oak is not easy, but it's possible to get it under control. Here's how.
By Teo Spengler
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4 Plants You Shouldn’t Prune In Spring: Key Ornamentals To Leave Alone
There are certain plants you shouldn’t prune in spring. It may be tempting to cut them back during your spring cleanup, but you may be sacrificing flowers.
By Teo Spengler