Tips for Gardening and Allergies

1. Monitor Pollen Forecasts

Pollen counts can be highest when it’s windy and dry, and early in the morning. Try to get out when the pollen count is low outside. Be sure to check the local pollen forecast. The best time for allergy -friendly gardening is when pollen levels are lower, usually on rainy or cloudy days.

2. Take Protective Measures with Outdoor Allergens

To help minimize getting a reaction from pollen while gardening, wear an inexpensive painter’s mask, a hat, oversized glasses, gloves and long sleeves. Change your clothes before walking through the house to help keep pollen from circulating inside.

3. Pick Allergy-Friendly Plants

The type of plants you put in your garden can protect you from allergies in the future. Flowers such as daffodils, impatiens, lilies and petunias produce less pollen . Check your gardening center or online resources for additional advice.

4. Alter Your Landscape Based on Your Allergies

Replanting grass and trees is a longer-term project, but it could help you avoid outdoor allergy symptoms. Some trees, such as hardwood and deciduous trees, can aggravate allergies. Others, like crepe myrtle, dogwood and fir trees, produce less pollen . Female buffalo grass produces no pollen .

5. Wash Away Pollen

Powder-fine pollen easily sticks to skin, hair and fabrics. After gardening, take a shower to remove pollen and mold spores from your skin and hair. If you don’t have time to shower, at least wash your face and hands and throw your clothes in the wash.

6. Take Allergy Medication

A non-drowsy antihistamine will help you fight allergy symptoms for hours once they occur. Claritin^® is available in Liqui-gels^®, RediTabs^®, chewables and tablets, and Claritin-D^®, which contains an antihistamine and decongestant , is available in tablets. Both medicines are available in 12-hour and 24-hour options. The active ingredient in Claritin^®, loratadine, won’t make you feel sleepy in the middle of your gardening project.

Grow Smart with These Easy Tips

1. Put Time on Your Side

Pollen counts vary during the course of the day, so try to get out when count is low outside. And be sure to check the local pollen forecast, so you can plan your gardening time when the pollen count is low.¹

2. Dress for Gardening Success

To help minimize your contact with pollen while gardening, wear an inexpensive painter’s mask, a hat, oversized glasses, gloves and long sleeves. And be sure to remove your clothes when you go inside to help keep pollen spores outside where they belong.

3. Put Down Allergy-Friendly Roots

Want a shady spot to read a book in your yard and manage your pollen allergies? Avoid planting hardwood deciduous trees that can aggravate allergies, such as birch, oak, elm, maple, ash and alder. Instead, stick with species less likely to cause allergies, including Crepe myrtle, dogwood, fir or redwood trees.²

4. Be Picky with Plants

If you have a pollen allergy , avoid planting sunflowers, daisies and chrysanthemums. They’re all related to ragweed and are more prone to triggering pollen allergies. Instead, opt for flowers that produce little to no pollen , such as daffodils, impatiens, lilies, pansies, petunias, roses, snapdragons, tulips and zinnias.³ If you’re not sure what to plant, ask your local gardening center before buying.

5. Love Your Lawn

Avoid common types of grass that produce more pollen spores and can trigger allergy symptoms, including Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy, Johnson, Bermuda, blue, orchard and sweet vernal grasses.² Instead, try planting the female version of buffalo grass as it produces little to no pollen .

6. Lather Up

After gardening, take a shower to remove sticky pollen and mold spores from your skin and hair. If you don’t have time to shower, at least wash your face and hands and change your clothes.²