Sneeze-Free Gardening: Plant Smartly

Sneeze-Free Gardening: Plant Smartly

 

You garden for peace of mind, for blissful preoccupation, for standing back and watching the colors emerge, day by day, from spring to late fall.  Itchy eyes, a runny nose, and nonstop sneezing aren't part of that bucolic scene, are they?

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST And yet: with 200,000 Rhode Islanders suffering from seasonal allergies, you could be one of the unlucky ones who might even be planting the backyard with enemies to your immune system.  Avoid the conflict (and sneezing) with the following game plan:

1. If you're already diagnosed with pollen allergies, talk to your allergist/immunologist about which plants may specifically trigger your reaction, and avoid including them.  Meanwhile, note the following plants tend to minimize allergy symptoms:

Azalea

, Begonia

, Bougainvillea

, Cacti

, Cherry

, Dahlia

, Daisy

, Geranium

, Gladiola

, Hibiscus

, Iris, Irish Moss

, Lily, Magnolia

, Marigold

, Narcissus

, Orchid

, Pansy

, Petunia

, Roses

, Snapdragon

, Sunflower

, Tulip

, Violet

, Zinnia

2. Watch the weather: on windy, dry, sunny and clear days, which can have greater pollen counts (sorry fair-weather gardeners!), limit your gardening to short intervals. For your local pollen count, check www.pollen.com.

3. Keep pollen at bay with some easy strategies:

            Wear a pollen mask or goggles while gardening and mowing the lawn

            Avoid touching your eyes and nose while working the yard

            Wear gloves

            Keep your grass cut short

            Avoid straw mulching

            Keep the garden free of flowering weeds

            If you're growing high-pollen plants like poppies and peonies, keep them away from doors and bedroom windows

            After your gardening sessions, leave your clothing outside of your bedroom, brush off your shoes and rinse glasses, then shower and shampoo

Photo ana316