Do you suffer from hayfever? Have you tried using these low allergen plants in your garden?

To create an allergy-free garden, focus on gardening techniques alongside plant selection:

Strategic Layout: Position high-pollen plants away from high-traffic areas and use fences or hedges to block allergens.

Regular Pruning and Deadheading: Prune trees and shrubs to reduce pollen production and remove spent flowers to prevent mold.

Proper Watering: Water in the morning to minimize mold growth and lightly spray plants to reduce airborne pollen.

Use Organic Mulches: Choose organic mulches to suppress weeds and avoid those that decompose quickly, which can foster mold. Use non-allergenic ground covers in high-traffic areas.

You've got the plan but how do you know what plants to choose?

When choosing plants for an allergy-friendly garden, consider the plant size, pollen production, and placement. 

Plants which rely on insects to pollinate them usually create less problems for people with allergies. These plants usually release less pollen into the air, and therefore these plants generally cause fewer allergies. 

Grass pollen is a major trigger, so mow regularly to prevent flowering and reduce pollen. 

Wear a mask while mowing, or have someone else do it if possible.

Planting suggestions:

Perennials:

• Aquilegia (Colombine) 

• Campanula (Bellflower) 

• Cyclamen

• Galanthus (Snowdrop) 

• Crocus 

• Agapanthus 

• Delphinium 

• Lupin 

• Primula 

• Paeonia (Paeony rose) 

• Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise)

Ferns:

• Asplenium

• Blechnum

• Dryopteris

• Osmunda 

Trees:

• Sorbus (Mountain Ash)

• Larix (Larch) 

• Pyrus (Pear) 

• Pinus (Pine) 

• Cedrus (Cedar)

Shrubs:

• Azalea 

• Potentilla 

• Mahonia 

• Camellia 

• Pieris

Bulbs:

• Dahlias

• Eucomis

• Galanthus

• Tulips

In the lists, you'll notice numerous common trees that you encounter daily. However, research indicates that most tree pollen falls to the ground within a short distance from the tree itself. 

The closer you are to trees that produce high amounts of pollen, the more you will be impacted. It's crucial to take into account the size of plants, trees, and shrubs. 

A tree generates a significant volume of pollen compared to a smaller plant, meaning that while you might have a plant in your garden that causes allergies, it will affect you less unless you lean down to smell it. In contrast, a tree can blanket everything within a certain radius with its pollen.