DIY Network

Planting an "Allergy Free" Garden Gardening tips for the allergy-prone to ensure that your and eyes are happy From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-109

Kristine Hanson talks with Pam Geisel about "good" and "bad" plants when it comes to allergies and allergens.

Dirt on Gardening host Kristine Hanson talks with Pam Geisel, environmental horticulture advisor with the University of California's cooperative extension, about plant allergies and about how select and plant in such a way as to minimize allergy problems in your yard and garden.

An allergy is a physical response to an irritant in the environment that may cause the body to react in a variety of ways. Allergic reactions can occur year-round, including in winter. Types of reaction may include running or itchy eyes and nose, skin flare-up, breathing problems and headaches.

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	Pam Geisel uses these balls to illustrate the difference between more problematic pollens like sycamore, and less irritating ones like pine.
	Ginkgo trees are either male or female. It's the male plant that produces allergy-causing pollen.

Allergy Facts

Most respiratory-related allergies are caused by pollen. Not all pollens are the same however. Some pollen spores, if viewed under a microscope, are basically smooth. Pine pollen, for example, has a more-or-less smooth outer surface. Others, like sycamore, have barbed surfaces. The latter type are the ones that tend to cause the greatest irritation in eyes, sinuses, lungs, etc.

Male plants are the most problematic since they are the pollen producers. Female plants, on the other hand, produce seeds rather than pollen. It's the flowering process--including the release of pollen--that leads to the misery of allergies.

It's important to note that some plant species have both male and female elements within a single plant, while others are "only male" or "only female." Ginkgo trees, for example, are either male or female, and it's only the male plant that produces the pollen that can cause allergies. Of course, there can be tradeoffs. Female plants may produce large amounts of seed pods, berries or fruit that may be messy in the garden or landscape setting. The female Ginkgo, for example, produces seeds in a fruit that many people find to have an unpleasant odor. Check horticultural guidebooks or check with your nurseryman for assistance in identifying the sex of plants.

Proximity to allergen-producing plants is another key factor. It's not simply that "allergens are in the air"; it's where you are and what is planted in the area. Proximity will have an impact on the intensity of the allergic response. Most pollen lands close to the source plant, so a heavily pollen-producing tree in your own yard, for example, will have a much greater impact than a similar tree planted down the block.

The key to an allergy-free garden is patience. A hard or garden relatively free of allergens doesn't happen overnight. Plant selection is key. Learn what species and varieties are safe to plant and which to avoid.

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