1 week Ago By Toby Codd
Hay fever season is quickly approaching, and it can make gardens unpleasant for some people. Therefore, it's important for hay fever sufferers to be mindful of which plants make their allergies worse. While some plants look appealing and beautiful, they can cause havoc to hay fever sufferers throughout the spring and summer months.
Although many people opt to take hay fever tablets to control their symptoms, there are other ways to avoid getting itchy eyes and a runny nose. Gardening experts recommend avoiding certain plants that are worse hay fever triggers than others. Some plants are often overlooked due to their lack of fragrance but can still trigger the allergy.
Expert Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk has outlined five plants to avoid if you want to keep allergies at bay this year.
She has also recommended alternative plants which have less pollen. Dahlias Dahlias come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes. They are popular for adding colour to borders in the late summer and early autumn.
Although they look amazing and attract pollinators, dahlias can cause havoc to hay fever sufferers. They are part of the aster family, meaning they pack a lot of pollen which can easily aggravate allergies. Expert Fiona recommends looking around for dahlia hybrids classified as "formal doubles".
These fluffy flowers have lots of petals and stamens that have evolved to be almost pollen-less. Sunflowers Sunflowers are one of the UK's most-loved flowers. They often bloom from summer to autumn and can reach heights of 2m.
Due to their lack of fragrance, sunflowers are often overlooked as a cause of allergies. But those with large heads will produce a great amount of pollen, meaning they can cause issues for hay fever sufferers. The good news is that you can get some relatively pollen-free alternatives.
In some varieties, the pollen is too heavy to be carried by the wind, which makes it less likely to enter our eyes and noses. Chrysanthemums Chrysanthemums are known for adding a fresh vibrancy to gardens during the summer months. They come in a range of colour varieties, including gold, white, red, pink, lavender, and purple.
However, like dahlias, they are a member of the aster family. Chrysanthemums come with trong allergy-inducing pollen, which is airborne and plentiful due to the number of flower heads in a plant. Fiona says hay fever sufferers may find themselves sensitive to certain parts of the plant, including its pollen, leaves, flowers, and even the stem.
Fortunately, there is a selection of replacement options. These include roses and peonies, as rose pollen is too large to become airborne, and insects rather than the wind pollinate peonies. Ryegrass Ryegrass is one of the most common grass species in the UK.
It's durable and able to thrive in cold and wet weather. Unfortunately, ryegrass is pollinated by wind meaning it can cause big issues for hay fever sufferers. The pollen is loosened by the wind and becomes airborne, eventually landing on our skin and in our eyes, mouths and noses, which triggers allergies.
As ryegrass is a regular feature of lawns across the UK, it can be tough to replace. Fiona recommends serious hay fever sufferers to replace their grassy gardens with artificial grass or other forms of landscaping such as paving or decking. Ragweed Although ragweed is not considered to be a garden flower, it is a common invasive weed in the UK.
It's also sometimes planted by gardeners to feed bees. Ragweed is heavy with pollen and is known for causing irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Just a single plant can produce up to one billion pollen grains.
The pollen is also very lightweight, meaning it can be easily moved around in the breeze. Fiona urges hay fever sufferers to remove the weed from their garden as soon as possible..
