Fortunately, with just a little forethought and sensitive plant choices, it is very possible to have a flower garden of low allergenic flowering, keeping tge allergens down to a minimum but looking great. Designing and maintaining an allergy-friendly garden is discussed below.
Gardening belongs to those kinds of soothing and rewarding activities that bring people closer to nature. Colors, fragrances, the beauty of blooming flowers-all this creates a dream way to forget hustle and bustle and catch a feeling of freshness for many after a busy day. Gardening by people allergic to plants is one sure sign that sneezing, itching, and other respiratory conditions relating to pollen and other allergens are about to start.
Allergens in the Garden
Allergies Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to materials that normally would be innocuous. The most common allergen is pollen. Pollen is the fine powdery substance produced by plants for reproduction. Plants that are wind pollinated tend to produce light, powdery pollen grains that are easily blown by the breeze to other plants. These are often the plants that give people seasonal allergies.
While most flowers are insect-pollinated, their pollination provided by such insects as bees and butterflies, or hummingbirds. Such flowers have heavier pollen, which is less airy and therefore less likely to cause allergies. By planting flowers dependent on insects to perform the major part of pollination, the chances of allergenic exposure are lowered.
Steps to Creating a Low-Allergen Garden
1. Choose the Right Plants
A low-allergic garden would start with the choosing of only those flowers, trees and shrubs, which are least likely to provoke allergic attacks. It would depend more on flowers whose pollen is subjected to insect-pollination, rather than wind-carried ones. Herein follow some examples of allergy-friendly plants.
Flowers which are low allergic:
Begonias: These bright but less-fussy blooms have relatively little pollen and are a good option for allergy sufferers.
Roses: Among the most popular flowers since time immemorial for their elegance and fragrance, roses mostly have insect-pollinated varieties; relatively few send airborne pollen.
Azaleas: These, too are flower-bearing shrubs that bear a sticky pollen and are not prone to be carried very far from the plant itself; hence, giving less allergic reactions in humans:
Tulips: Their beautiful bright-colored petals make for an attractive look for any garden and its output of pollen is minimal.
Geraniums: These are bright showy blooms that come in a number of colours and are considered to be low-allergenic plants.
Plants to Avoid:
Ragweed: This is one of the most common causes of hay fever due to its pollen. Features include wind-pollinated causes of allergens.
Ornamental Grasses:Most grasses but particularly those that have flowers let out pollens which may cause allergic reactions.
Birch Trees: These are trees which during the spring season release so much pollen in fact that it has always acted like an allergen to many people.
2. Consider Fragrance Sensitivity
Apart from the pollen allergy, some people develop sensitivities to overpowering odors of perfumes. A gardener in that case needs to opt for plants that shall not emit any recognizable odor. Thousands of hybrid types of flowers known for their peculiar fragrance have been reared with very minimal pungent smell and thereby suitable for sensitive people.
Sometimes, the male plants carry the pollen that provokes allergic reactions. In some tree species, for example, flowers are unisexual; that is, there exist either male or female flowers. Only the male flowers produce pollen. In building the low-pollen garden, the female plants are often used since they carry no pollen.
Planting male sterile cultivars is available for the species except when planting must have female cultivars. Sterile flowers of males in these plants do not develop any form of pollen.
4. Include Non-Flowering Plants
Probably the easiest way to decrease the amount of allergens in your plot would include those plants that never bloom. Ferns, evergreen trees, succulents-just to name a few-never bloom and hence never produce any kind of pollen.
Examples of Non-Flowering Low Allergenic Plants:
Hostas: They bear big and fancy leaves. They work great for adding texture in a garden without adding into the airborne allergens.
Ferns:They do not produce any kind of pollen. Having fronds, they add an attractive feature in the garden.
Succulents: They seldom flower or produce any type of pollen. They require minimum maintenance; hence, it will be the ultimate choice amongst flora for an allergy-friendly garden.
5. Practice good garden hygiene
Good garden hygiene even in a low-allergenic garden can reduce the amount of allergens. Below are some tips to maintain your garden allergy-friendly:
Mulch regularly: mulching suppresses weeds-most of which also produce and send out pollen into the air. Organic mulching with wood chips or bark has another twofold advantage: it keeps the soil damp, which cuts down on dust and can therefore prevent irritation for susceptible individuals.
Water Your Garden Ample: withering and dusty weather certainly offers no reprieve to the allergies. Keeping the garden moist will help reduce by a great amount the amount of dust and pollen that flies in the air.
Pruning and Deadheading:Pruning your plants regularly and removing withered flowers can cut down the amount of pollen emitted by your plants. This also clears mold growth, emanating from a well-maintained garden, which can be an allergen to some people.
6. Hardscaping Features to Consider
This aesthetically allows pathways, patios, and garden furniture without the extra allergens. Gravel paths, stone benches, and decorative garden walls add structure and interest that cuts down on the amount of plant material that would otherwise be present to produce pollen.
7. Limit Mold and Mildew Exposure
Another common allergen that likes to make residence in gardens-especially cool, shady areas-is mold spores. Cut down on mold and mildew in your garden by not overwatering your plants and by having proper drainage in your garden. Mold spores also come from decaying plant material; these should be removed when possible.
8. Plant Windbreaks
These would be places in your garden where flowers are wind-pollinated; you would then want to plant windbreaks in that area. These cut off much of the pollen to your garden as it gets caught before being blown into the garden. Thereby relieving the allergy-prone gardener.
Best Allergy-Friendly Flowers
It would be the opportune time to research those flowers reputative or known for low-pollen or no pollen for planting in one's low-pollen allergenic garden. Of course, some of the best flowers for allergies one may want to consider include the following:
1.Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
These flowers are bright-coloured blossoms, happy, and attract bees and butterflies. However, there is a low chance of allergic reactions among people. Snapdragons produce a load of heavy pollen, which appears to stay generally in the flower and not air-borne as much.
2. Petunia (Petunia spp.)
Such meager production of pollen puts petunias in the list of least allergenic plants. They are strewn around in many hues of colors, and they just like the sun-filled places.
3. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Impatiens loves shade hence one of the ideal flowers for people affected with allergic reactions. Their pollen is generally not set free into the atmosphere because of the shape of the blossoms.
4. Fuchsias (Fuchsia spp.)
These flowers are a sight to behold, and for the fact that they are shade-loving, this subsequently means that through the process of pollination, they rely on hummingbirds. They also produce very little pollen, hence becoming suitable for allergy-friendly gardens.
5. Lilies (Lilium spp.)
Though some sorts of lilies are perfumy, on the whole they are low-allergic plants because the pollen does not stay in the air. Choose the less perfumy one since your sensitivity may be to the strong perfume.
Allergy-Friendly Garden Design Tips
The garden requires immense planning and keen attention to minute details. Following are a few tips that can help in making one's garden beautiful yet keeping allergens at their minimal:.
1. Well-Demarked Pathways:
Gravel, stone, or brick pathways add so much appeal to your garden but at the same time reduce the amount of allergens near you because there's less plant growth around pathways. This might help in your endeavor of staying away from exposure to pollen while gardening.
2. Add Vertical Elements:
Add trellises, arbors, or pergolas to support climbing plants such as clematis or wisteria. These add height and interest to a garden without additional ground-level plant material that may add to more pollen.
3.Group Allergy-Friendly Plants Together:
it groups them together, making a specific area in the garden which will further cause fewer allergic attacks. Then, it is the comfort zone for sensitive gardeners where they could retire and enjoy themselves without having to take care of the allergens.
4.Use Raised Beds:
These will come in handy in an allergy-friendly garden since they are bound to provide superior soil and drainage conditions. This in turn will reduce mold and mildew that may trigger allergies. Besides, the raised beds will give you the opportunity to tend to your plants without necessarily having to come into proximity with flowers that are potentially allergenic.
5. Plan for Seasonal Changes
It is of much importance to note that each plant is at a different time of the year pollinated. Very profound planning of seasonal changes in a garden is made. One can minimize airbound pollen at peak seasons of allergy if he plants a mix of assorted plants that bloom at times different from others.
Conclusion
Indeed, one can grow low allergenic flower gardens with appropriate choices of plants and design strategies. All this could be availed within a flower garden by causing least distress on account of allergy by using flowers that are low pollen and insect-pollinated flowers, keeping the garden well maintained and offering comfortable outdoors. These tips and plant suggestions are sure to be most helpful whether one is afflicted with sensitivities of pollen or merely concerned about offering a sensitive environment to family and guests. This shall allow the person to build a quiet and awesomely beautiful garden space. Ironically, with due attention and proper care, the colors and fragrance are taken out of flowers that have least care towards allergy risk. Consider your garden as a haven, a place to which one may well be able to retreat from everything, having much-needed time well spent in seclusion away amidst the soothing presence of nature from a number of allergic triggers.
