Enjoy a Sneezeless Season!
Ah, Spring is here. The flowers are blooming, grasses growing,
and bees buzzing...Aahchoo!
To some this means one thing - allergies. Well have faith, there is something you can do to alleviate hay fever symptoms and still enjoy the great outdoors.
The American Lung Association states that “in California, the main culprits of pollen allergies are our own gardens. Though pollens can travel many miles, the majority tend to be focused in the general vicinity of their origin. An olive tree in the yard can expose the homeowner to ten times more pollen than an olive tree a block away”.
Although all plants have the potential to cause allergies if the
exposure is high enough, there are really only 25 to 30 popular
landscape plants responsible for the majority of plant-related
allergies in California.
To determine whether a plant is a potential allergy hazard you
need simply examine the flowers. Wind pollinated plants cause
the majority of problems. These plants have drab, inconspicuos
flowers, often growing in clusters or tassels.
Most colorful and showy plants are safe. These blooms are insect-pollinated
and have heavy, sticky pollens. The pollens securely attach to
the insect and are not easily picked up by the wind.
Often, reactions to otherwise safe plants are due to exposure
to the fragrance and mostly aggrivate the people who are especially
sensitive, like those with asthma. Some of these plants include
roses, star jasmine, citrus trees, eucalyptus trees, narcissus,
rosemary and gardenias.Perhaps the biggest contributors to allergy
problems here in California are our lawns. Most of us love a beautiful,
lush, well-manicured lawn. And it is true; a lawn has many other
attributes, such as cooling it’s surroundings and absorbing
air Bermuda grass is the most abundant pollen-producer, however
there are types of grasses that are relatively safe. Dichondra
is the best because it is not a member of the grass family.
Often, reactions to otherwise safe plants are due to exposure to the fragrance and mostly aggrivate the people who are especially sensitive, like those with asthma. Some of these plants include roses, star jasmine, citrus trees, eucalyptus trees, narcissus, rosemary and gardenias.Perhaps the biggest contributors to allergy problems here in California are our lawns. Most of us love a beautiful, lush, well-manicured lawn. And it is true; a lawn has many other attributes, such as cooling it’s surroundings and absorbing air Bermuda grass is the most abundant pollen-producer, however there are types of grasses that are relatively safe. Dichondra is the best because it is not a member of the grass family.
Blends of perennial rye grass, blue grass and tall fescue are also recommended. While these do not actuallyflower until they reach a hsight of 12 inches, it is best to keep them at a mowing height of 2 inches.Around the urban San Francisco Bay Area the primary hay fever plants are uncultivated weeds and cultivated ornamentals, including terees. In the surrounding countryside some native plants are also known to cause hay fever symptoms.If you already have Bermuda grass then it is best to have someone else mow and maintain it, keeping it as short as possible.
Also, keep runaway Bermuda grass from creeping into flower beds is it will flower prolifically.Just what does this mean for you? No, you don’t have to replace your entire existing landscape. But you can plan for future plantings. If everyone does this, the amount of pollen exposure can be significantly reduced, adding to everyone's good health, and saving on sky rocketing health care costs. Enjoy a Sneezeless Season
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Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipfera) |
GRASS-LAWN Dichondra |
Oleander |
Poppy |
Cinquefoil (Potentilla) |