Gardening with outdoor allergies

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru
Whether you are a gardener with allergies or a person, that suffers from environmental allergies, who would just like to enjoy being outside in their yard, this column will provide you with some information that you may be able to use, to either enjoy gardening again, landscape your yard to help minimize allergy symptoms or just enjoy the being outdoors in your yard once and awhile. Seasonal allergies can stop some people in their tracks with sneezing attacks, watery eyes and runny noses or an inability to breathe. The onset of spring marks the beginning of the allergy season with the pollen of ash, birch, elm, hickory, and other trees. Late spring and summer brings problems with grasses. Summer and fall continues the agony with numerous weeds such as burdock, ragweed (goldenrod) and amaranth.
Pollen and moulds are some of the most common causes of human and pet allergies. Unfortunately it can be very difficult to visually see when mould and pollen is present in the air each day. Of course there are times of the year when allergy symptoms may be worse, but you can rely on the pollen index calculated for our area to determine whether the pollen counts in the air may affect your allergies each day. Northwestern Ontario, because of its large areas of forested land often has higher pollen index levels, especially in the spring, than other areas in the province. Thunder Bay is consistently known for the highest airborne pollen and mould readings, within the province. This is not good news for those with allergies. You cannot do anything about the pollen in the air across the region but you can reduce the pollen levels right in your own yard and garden which may provide you with reduced symptoms.
People who are unaware of their particular allergies often want to blame plants with bright, fragrant flowers even though these are often not the culprit. The plants that often cause allergies are those whose pollen is windborne and have inconspicuous flowers. Brightly coloured, fragrant flowers have heavy pollen that need insects, not wind, for the transfer of their pollen. You can usually identify these plants because they attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Unfortunately though, some people with high sensitivities still may be affected by insect pollinated plants as well. Also be aware that these plants often have strong fragrances and this can also prompt allergic reactions that are not necessarily related to pollen.
The first step in gardening with allergies is to identify the plants which cause problems. Allergies can change over time, as can sensitivity. By knowing your allergies you can begin developing avoidance strategies. Altering your surroundings can significantly reduce your exposure to your allergies and allergy triggers. The microenvironment you create for yourself may not help much on windy days at the peak of your allergy season, but it should help at
other times. Utilize plants throughout the landscape that do not cause problems for your allergies. If you have allergies to tree pollen, you can plant shrubs or flowers instead. If grasses cause problems, avoid large expanses of lawn. Believe it or not, for those that suffer from pollen and mould allergies the culprits causing your allergic reaction are often highest within 2-3 feet of the plant or tree, this means right in your own yard or garden. Wind-borne pollen can collect on anything and it sometimes gives other plants a bad rap. Many ornamental shrubs, annuals and perennials are safe. Fruit trees are pollinated by insects and are also safe. You may also want to consider planting perennials that are known for their decorative foliage (hosta, lamb’s ear, ajuga {bugleweed}, silvermound) instead of their flowers. Some of these species of perennials still produce flowers but the spikes can be cut off as soon as they appear to eliminate the flowers all together. The other advantage of this is that the energy goes back into the plant producing a larger plant. Also look for varieties of trees and ornamental shrubs with decorative foliage. In many species like this the flowers are not the main focal point and are usually quite inconspicuous.
Tree pollen is the number one allergen and is supplied in large quantities by oak, birch, most maple species, elm, ash and alder all of which are very common in our region. Oddly enough, the clouds and layers of pollen we see from pine and aspen trees is usually not allergy-provoking.
Weed and grass pollens are next most notorious pollen-producing plants and this includes the weeds from the ragweed family. The season for weed and grass pollens begins in late spring and continues into fall. Chrysanthemums, daisies and marigolds are members of this group, as well as goldenrod, burdock and amaranth. Most common turf grasses do not produce pollen and will not if kept from producing seed. In order to prevent your lawn from producing seed, keep it mowed throughout the season at 2-3 inches. Wild grasses at the edge of your property that are allowed to mature each season can be a large pollen contributor. Keep all grasses whether lawn, ornamental or weed species trimmed to prevent seed production.
The good news is that there are thousands of plants that are just fine for the allergy sufferer who happens to enjoy being outdoors. The pollen season starts in late winter/early spring and lasts until the first frosts in the fall. Short of never going outdoors, here are some things a gardener can do:
Native plants are advantageous for people with allergies because they require little effort, withstand the climate extremes in various regions of the country and do not need fertilizers, water or pesticides. Check your local nursery for plants native to our region.
Plant insect-pollinated plants in your garden. Use a garden book as reference for your area. To reduce your contact with pollen, wear a mask and glasses like sun or safety glasses. Wear a hat gloves and long-sleeved shirts and pants instead of shorts. Long hair should be pinned up to prevent spores from settling in.
Avoid taking pollen-covered clothing into the house. Wash these clothes frequently and do not dry outside on the clothesline. Showering immediately after outside exposure, make sure to wash thoroughly, including your hair and then changing into clean clothing. It can also be helpful to not bring the clothing that you wear while gardening, into the house. When you wash this clothing use hot water to kill all of the spores.
Avoid gardening from 5-10 AM. Pollen levels are usually at their highest at this time, especially when the weather is hot and calm or very windy. Garden in the late morning or afternoon when pollen is higher in the sky or on cloudy, rainy or cooler days when it is not as prevalent in the air.
Keep weeds in check by vigilant mowing, pulling and mulching, or by planting ground cover. Use ground covers instead of organic mulches. Replace hedges with fences or walls. Install a water garden instead of a
garden with plants.
Check the local pollen count. The pollen count monitors pollen levels in the air and can help you when planning outdoor activities. Rain or a change in the weather can remove a lot of pollen from the air. Remember though, moisture from rain can also prompt new blooms on some troublesome plants and increase mould spores.
Avoid “seedless” or “male” varieties of trees or shrubs. These are typically wind-borne pollen producers, no the female or seed producing trees. Although most plant tags do not designate which, if any, sex the plant is, it doesn’t hurt to check.
Mould spores are also a cause of distress for many allergy sufferers and can occur in dry or wet weather, depending on the type. During wet springs clouds of spores can actually be seen rising like smoke from mouldy twigs or fruit.
If you have allergies to moulds or fungus, take care to rake up and
compost dead leaves from your yard. Also reduce mould spores by eliminating organic mulches such as bark mulch or chips.
By following the tips listed in this column, you may be able to enjoy your yard or garden after all and I hope that these tips may help to lessen chances of allergic reactions.