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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How To Propagate Jade Plant Cuttings
There's no big mystery about how to propagate a jade plant. Whether rooting stem or leaf cuttings, it’s easy and rewarding.
By Teo Spengler
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How To Care For An Areca Palm Tree
Areca palm is the most widely used palm for bright interiors. Read this article to find out more about growing an areca palm in the home so you can enjoy its beautiful feathery fronds.
By Jackie Carroll
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Common Problems With Artificial Grass & How To Avoid Them
If you’ve added fake grass as a way to save time, be warned: you’ll run into problems with artificial grass if you haven’t made the right preparations. Here’s how to dodge lawn grief
By Teo Spengler
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Trees That Grow In Water – Best Trees For Wet Soil
Certain trees growing in water or wet areas of your yard can help improve drainage, but be sure they’re the right ones.
By Teo Spengler
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Which Plants You Shouldn’t Prune In Winter
Understanding which plants you shouldn’t prune in winter will safeguard key evergreens and spring-flowering ornamentals. We explain which plants to leave alone
By Teo Spengler
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When Orchid Tree Flowers Don’t Appear: How To Encourage Bauhinia Blooms
If you don’t see orchid tree flowers straight away, don’t panic. We show you how to get savvy with common orchid tree problems – and how to bring on the bauhinia blooms
By Teo Spengler
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Crystal Brain Fungus: All You Need To Know About Myxarium Nucleatum
At first glimpse, the crystal brain fungus can cause alarm and bewilderment, but fear not. We reveal why you can relax if you spot this squishy, gloopy garden guest
By Teo Spengler
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Hardy Perennials That Won’t Die In Winter
Want to know which hardy perennials will survive even in cold climate regions? We round up the super hardy perennials you need to grow
By Teo Spengler
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Yellow Leaves On Your Pothos? 7 Common Causes & Fixes
Yellow leaves on pothos plants are a common problem that might be easily fixed.
By Teo Spengler
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6 Things To Do With Old Potting Soil To Get The Most Out Of It
What to do with old potting soil is a common question. Don’t throw it away! Here are 6 things to do instead.
By Teo Spengler
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South American Palm Weevil: Identification & Control Methods
South American palm weevils are small bugs that can cause big damage.
By Teo Spengler
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Ornamental Grasses: A Must-Have For Every Landscape
Dramatic and decorative ornamental grasses have become popular substitutes for turf grass.
By Liz Baessler
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How To Grow An Indoor Lemon Tree
If your growing region is a cold one, grow an indoor lemon tree. It may not bear fruit, but it can still be a lovely indoor houseplant.
By Teo Spengler
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No-Till Cover Crops: How To Grow Healthier Soil Over Winter
Maintain your soil the easy and sustainable way. Grow a no-till cover crop in your garden this winter.
By Teo Spengler
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Grow Lagerstroemia Fauriei: Best Care For Japanese Crepe Myrtle
A Japanese crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia fauriei) adds year-round ornamental color. Here's how to bring a multi-seasonal dimension to your plot
By Teo Spengler
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Atlas Cedar Care: How To Grow Cedrus Atlantica
Find out why the atlas cedar tree is such a dynamic evergreen to grow, as we reveal the secrets of this illustrious silver-blue beauty.
By Teo Spengler
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Blueberry Sod: The Perfect Ground Cover For Your Garden
If you're after an easy alternative to lawn maintenance, blueberry sod is the ideal ground cover. Here's how to simplify your green spaces.
By Teo Spengler
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What Perennials Not To Cut Back In Fall
Cutting back perennials in fall? Not so fast! Leave some as winter shelter for beneficial insects, birds and small animals.
By Teo Spengler