Bruce Spangenberg, Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist
Bruce Spangenberg serves as an Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist, supporting communities across Wisconsin with a focus on turf management and helping both lawn care professionals and homeowners maintain healthy, resilient lawns. Through his work, Bruce provides research-based guidance that is practical, timely, and tailored to the needs of Wisconsin landscapes.
Bruce brings a depth of experience to his position. He previously served as the Iron County Horticulture Educator with Extension and has held several roles with the University of Illinois. He holds a Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Crop Science from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.
One of the aspects Bruce values most about his role is the opportunity to share current information while continuing to learn alongside the communities he serves. Even after years of experience in horticulture, he finds that new questions and emerging challenges keep the work engaging and meaningful. Whether he’s troubleshooting lawn issues or developing new educational materials, Bruce is committed to helping people make informed decisions.
“I enjoy the variety of questions and the chance to dig into new topics,” Bruce said. “There’s always something new to learn, and that keeps the work interesting.”
One project Bruce is especially proud of is the Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar, a resource designed to guide homeowners through seasonal lawn care tasks. He recently shared this tool at the Garden & Green Living Expo in Madison, helping attendees better understand how to care for their lawns throughout the year.
“The Lawn Care Calendar covers everything related to lawns for a homeowner—when to do it and what to do,” said Bruce. Check out this helpful tool at go.wisc.edu/WILawnCareCalendar.
Resources like the Lawn Care Calendar reflect Bruce’s commitment to making research-based information easy to use and apply. By translating science into clear, actionable steps, he helps Wisconsin residents build and maintain lawns that are not only attractive but also healthy and sustainable.
To contact Bruce or an Extension expert or ask a gardening question, visit:
go.wisc.edu/GardenQuestions