When you suffer from seasonal allergies, you want to make sure that your environment has as few triggers as possible. This applies to your East Northport, NY, home and landscape, as well. Here are some of the best allergy-friendly landscape design ideas so that you can still enjoy being outdoors.
What Causes Allergies?
When plants and flowers begin to pollinate, which is the way they reproduce, this pollen can cause a strong reaction for those who are allergic. Itchy eyes, a runny nose, stuffy sinuses, and even wheezing can make every day a struggle when this pollen is around. These seasonal allergies usually occur at specific times of the year and can make you quite miserable and unable to spend any time outdoors.
Spring allergies tend to be caused by trees pollinating, while in the summer mostly grasses are what aggravate allergies. And, in the fall, ragweed can be a problem. Even with prescribed allergy medicine, you can still suffer.
The good news is that there are plants and trees that tend to produce the least allergens, and by favoring them over others, you can help keep your symptoms to be minimal in your own yard. So, you don’t have to live in a plant- and tree-free yard.
Tree Choices
There are two types of trees, monoecious and dioecious. Monoecious trees have both the male and female parts contained in one tree. Because of this, they can produce pollen to reproduce themselves. Dioecious trees are either male or female and need to be cross-pollinated to reproduce.
Choosing the female version of many trees can limit your exposure to allergens like pollen. Many nurseries carry both monoecious and dioecious trees, so discussing your allergies with your landscaper can help to direct you to the female trees. Any poplar, red maple, silver maple, mulberry, ash, or red cedar tree that is female is often considered a great choice to limit the amount of pollen. Frequently, these trees can be special ordered for you.
Minimize Weeds
Another allergy-friendly alternative is to use small river rocks or gravel in landscape beds to reduce the exposure to allergens from mulch or pine needles. Keep your yard free of fallen limbs and leaves that can encourage weed growth.
Limit Grass Growth
Also see about limiting the amount of grass in your yard. While lush, green grass makes the landscape pop, many homeowners are choosing to limit the amount of grass to conserve the water that it requires to remain healthy. Less grass means that you can choose plants and landscape elements that are minimal water users and still have a dazzling yard. You might also consider artificial turf—no more weeds, nor more mowing, no more fertilizing.
Planting Selections
Flowers, especially annuals that live only a season, don’t produce enough pollen to be a problem for most people. This means that you can still plant your petunias, ferns, violas, and any other plant that you love for its seasonal color.
Some plants and shrubs that are allergy friendly are roses, sage, hosta, daisies, salvia, rosemary, and lavender.
Your local East Northport, NY, landscape masonry design and outdoor living company has planting experts who can address the common ways to minimize seasonal allergies. They can suggest tree varieties that still bring shade and majesty to your yard without the annoying pollen. You want your yard to be a haven that minimizes your exposure to allergens, and these pros can suggest a wide variety of shrubs and flowers to bring lasting beauty to your landscape.
