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 Drought-Proof Container Plants That Stay Lush Through Heatwaves – Even When Everything Else Is WiltingThese resilient container stars shrug off scorching temperatures and dry spells, keeping patios colorful with far less watering than most summer plants.
By Teo Spengler
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Think Companion Planting Doesn’t Stop Pests? It’s Because You’re Not Scent ClusteringIf companion planting hasn't lived up to the hype in your garden, the problem may not be the technique itself. Discover how grouping aromatic plants can make natural pest control more effective.
By Teo Spengler
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These 8 Tiny Patio Plants Attract Pollinators All Summer – Bringing Every Corner to LifeYou don't need a big garden to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. These compact patio plants provide nectar-rich blooms all summer.
By Teo Spengler
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Beat the Heat – These 5 Plants Work Like Natural Air Conditioners to Keep Patios Cooler in SummerDon't let a heatwave ruin your outdoor living this summer. Add a few vines to block the sun, airy trees to let the breeze in, and plants that release cool moisture.
By Teo Spengler
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7 Surprisingly Flammable Plants You Should Keep Away from FireworksDon't light the sparklers yet! These plants are sneakily flammable. Keep them away from fireworks (and your house) to avoid an unexpected blaze.
By Teo Spengler
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The Founding Fathers' Favorite Flowers – These 8 Varieties Were Must-Haves in Their Gardens and Should Be in Yours, TooCelebrate America's 250th with the ultimate garden throwback. Here are 8 historic flowers worth growing today.
By Teo Spengler
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What Your Japanese Maple Needs in July for Blazing Color That Lasts All Season – 5 Easy Tasks to Do NowKeep your Japanese maple looking bright and beautiful through the hottest part of summer by doing these simple tasks now.
By Teo Spengler
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What to Do With Your Cherry Trees in July – 5 Easy Ways to Enjoy Sweeter Fruits and Bumper HarvestsSummer is the pinnacle of sweet fruit goodness for cherry growers, so don’t miss out on tasty harvests. Here are the key things to check so you can feast on fabulous cherry flavors
By Teo Spengler
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What Your Azaleas Need Before June Ends – 5 Tasks You Need to Do Now for Beautiful Blooms Next YearDon't wait too late or your azaleas won't have as many blooms next spring!
By Teo Spengler
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Reasons For Bougainvillea Flower Drop – Learn Why Blooms Are Falling Off Your Vine and What to DoIf your bougainvillea blooms are falling off, the odds are that the plant is not getting proper amounts of one of a few critical elements. Fix it fast.
By Teo Spengler
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What Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Needs in June – 5 Simple Care Tasks for Shiny Leaves and Healthy GrowthJune is the perfect time to do a little fiddle leaf fig maintenance. Proper summer care will set your fig up for a healthy rest of the year.
By Teo Spengler
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These 7 Gorgeous Small Shade Trees Create a Cooling Canopy, Vibrant Summer Color and Multi-Season BeautyYes, you can grow small shade trees that flourish in tricky spots and create dynamic interest, as well as the potential for cooling shelter and diminutive charms that extend through summer and beyond
By Teo Spengler
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Tired of Next Door’s BBQ Smoke Invading Your Patio? These 8 Fragrant Plants Help Mask Odors and Create CalmSummer days in your yard should be soothing, uplifting and filled with joy. But if you’re dealing with unpleasant smells coming from elsewhere, these lovely plant shields can create a fragrant forcefield
By Teo Spengler
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Fading June Blooms? These 7 Gorgeous Perennials Keep the Summer Show Going Strong with Showstopping FoliageFoliage plants might not seem like obvious candidates for razzle-dazzle, but these leafy perennials hold their own against any big bloomers. These hardworking foliage heroes give long-lasting color, texture and awesome structure all summer
By Teo Spengler
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What to Do With Clematis in June for Big Blooms That Return Year After Year – 5 Easy Tasks to Do Before the End of the MonthKeep clematis blooming beautifully every year by giving them the care they need now. Here's what you need to do in June for vines filled with flowers.
By Teo Spengler
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5 Container Plants That (Almost) Never Need Watering – These Gorgeous Drought-Proof Picks Will Thrive All SummerDon't let the hot, dry summer take a toll on your porch pots. Planting a nearly drought-proof container garden will keep your home looking great all summer long.
By Teo Spengler
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5 Flowers You Only Need to Plant Once – They’ll Multiply Into Dozens More for FreeThese easy perennial flowers fill in garden beds fast! Just put them in the ground, then they'll spread and bloom for years to come.
By Teo Spengler
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Is It OK to Take Plant Cuttings From Garden Centers? A Lawyer Explains Whether 'Proplifting' Is Worth ItBefore you snip a stem from that unusual houseplant, here's what the law says – and why garden centers often take the practice seriously.
By Teo Spengler

