Landscaping with allergies is nothing to sneeze at. Whether you\u2019re a year-round or seasonal sniffler, our tips for allergy-free gardening will let you stop hiding indoors and get back to enjoying your backyard.<\/p>
Not all grass is made equal when it comes to allergies. Grasses release tiny pollen grains that can travel for hundreds of miles, and some of those pollen grains trigger allergic reactions. Everyone\u2019s bodies react differently to grass, and some species may be worse for you than others.<\/p>
In addition to seeding your lawn with grass that\u2019s better for your sinuses, keep your turf cut on the shorter end of its recommended length. A good rule of thumb is to mow at about 2 inches to prevent too much pollen from circulating in the air. <\/p>
Minimizing the amount of turfgrass is also a good idea. You can replace traditional grass with a rock garden<\/a>, an outdoor kitchen, patio, or a water feature.<\/p> Worst grasses for allergy sufferers:<\/strong><\/p> \u2717 Bermuda Best grasses for allergy sufferers:<\/strong><\/p> \u2713 St. Augustine grass Mulch\u2019s moisture-retaining abilities might be good for thirsty plants, but it also can be a breeding ground for mold. Replacing mulch is especially important for people with mold allergies and asthma<\/a>. While clearing out your mulch, remember to wear gloves and a mask. <\/p> Why should you replace it instead of letting the soil be bare? Aside from aesthetic reasons, some kind of ground cover is important for allergy sufferers because it minimizes soil dust entering the air, which can irritate the respiratory system. It also suppresses weeds. <\/p> Substitutes for mulch:<\/strong><\/p> Ground cover<\/strong> is any low-lying plant that usually spreads in a creeping manner. Plant an allergy-friendly ground cover like creeping thyme, Corsican mint, ajuga, pachysandra, phlox, or vinca.<\/p> Trees are some of the worst culprits for the spread of pollen, especially male dioecious ones. Male plants and male parts of plants produce pollen \u2014 female plants don\u2019t. Dioecious plants have either male or female flowers (instead of both), so the flowers of dioecious male trees all produce airborne pollen. <\/p> Choosing female trees or monoecious plants (trees that produce both male and female flowers) can help reduce allergy symptoms. If you\u2019re not sure what kind of tree you\u2019re choosing, ask your local nursery for guidance. <\/p> Did you know most of the trees you see on sidewalks and in parks are males? This is known as \u201cbotanical sexism.\u201d<\/a> Female trees are believed to be messier because of their seed pods, fruit, and flowers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended male trees for public spaces to minimize cleanup which is believed to be partly responsible for the rise in hay fever. <\/p> Pulling weeds isn\u2019t anyone\u2019s favorite way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but it\u2019s especially important if you deal with allergies. Although ragweed gets the most publicity, there are a few other weeds that people with allergies are often sensitive to. <\/p> Poison oak<\/strong><\/p> Poison ivy<\/strong><\/p> Sagebrush<\/strong><\/p> Pigweed<\/strong><\/p> Russian thistle<\/strong><\/p> Ragweed<\/strong><\/p> \u2713 Fill in cracks between pavers and concrete slabs with sand or gravel Sniffle-proofing your landscape doesn\u2019t mean making it bare or boring. There are tons of allergy-friendly plants to choose from. <\/p> In fact, safe plants tend to be more vibrant than their toxic counterparts. That\u2019s because allergy-friendly plants are insect-pollinated as opposed to wind-pollinated. To attract pollinators like bees, butterflies,<\/a> and birds, flowering plants need to be showy and colorful. <\/p>
\u2717 Rye
\u2717 Fescue<\/p>
\u2713 Female Buffalo grass (Legacy or UC Verde variety)
\u2713 Artificial turf<\/a><\/p> 2. Skip the mulch<\/span><\/h2>
3. Choose female trees<\/span><\/h2>
4. Keep weeds in check<\/span><\/h2>
Weeds to watch out for<\/span><\/h3>
How to keep weeds in check<\/span><\/h3>
\u2713 Install artificial grass
\u2713 Keep your yard clear of debris like dead leaves and brush
\u2713 Plant or install a ground cover on areas of bare dirt
\u2713 Use an herbicide for spot treatments and young weeds<\/p> 5. Pollen-free plants<\/span><\/h2>