The arrival of warm weather, flowers bursting into bloom and increased time spent outdoors in gardens sounds like a great thing to some. But for almost a third of the UK population, this spells disaster.
I am talking of course about hay fever sufferers. According to Allergy UK, Allergic rhinitis affects 29% of people. When triggered by pollen these individuals experience symptoms such as "sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, itchy throat or ears, coughing and fatigue," they say.
If this is sounding all too familiar then you may be someone who could benefit from some hay fever-friendly tips for your garden design. As well as keeping up with your usual remedies you might find that these small changes in your garden could help alleviate some of your symptoms and increase your outdoor enjoyment this year.
1. Choose low-allergen plants
A good starting point is to opt for low-pollen plants, especially ones that are pollinated by insects rather than by wind. As wind pollination is a less effective method of pollination plants typically have to create higher levels of pollen for success. Wind pollination also means there is likely to be more pollen in the air that can aggravate your allergies. Plants with sticky, heavy pollen are your best bet.
If you're a fan of using roses in your garden landscaping, the good news is that they are primarily insect pollinated so can be suitable for hay fever sufferers. If you want to be extra careful, Flying Flowers advises opting for double varieties with overlapping petals as this makes it more difficult for the pollen to escape.
Other good options for summer colour and flowers include lavender and hollyhocks, while hostas and ferns are great for their interesting foliage and won't cause issues for hay fever sufferers.
"There are so many different types of hostas to choose from," says Beth Murton, editor of Homebuilding & Renovating. "I have lots of them in my garden and love the effect of the different foliage colours and leaf shapes that provide interest for many months of the year. I suffer from hay fever so prefer to have lots of foliage plants like hostas near my patio rather than flowering varieties that can create issues for me."
2. Do your gardening at specific times
"Try to limit your gardening days to cool or cloudy days. Or if the weather looks to be glorious that day, try to only venture out as early as possible when the pollen count is generally at its lowest," says James Ewens, commercial director at Green Feathers.
Allergy UK recommends that you keep an eye on pollen forecasts daily and stay indoors when the count is high. They have a handy pollen calendar on their website which highlights times when each of the main allergenic plants are in flower.
"Try to only go out at certain times of the day – you can even try wearing a mask over your nose and mouth to prevent pollen from irritating your nasal pathways," says James.
James Ewens is commercial director of Green Feathers, bird box camera and wildlife specialists, and is a self-proclaimed garden enthusiast. James is passionate about all things to do with nature, gardening and wildlife. When he's not tending to his own outdoor space, he's usually checking on his bird and hedgehog cameras.
Shop hay fever gardening aids
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These are essentially goggles which are designed to look like sunglasses. They have a cushioned seal which fits around the eyes preventing pollen particles from entering.
This clever little gadget removes allergens from your breathing area by creating an electrostatic shield that repels, incinerates or oxidises airborne particulates before they can enter the mouth, nose and eyes.
3. Keep your lawn short
"Letting your lawn ideas grow long increases the amount of pollen it releases. Longer grass blades produce more pollen," says gardening expert Lucie Bradley from Two Wests and Elliot. "Allowing grass to grow longer also allows for flowers and weeds to grow."
If pollen levels are particularly high, it's best to get a non-hay fever sufferer to look after your lawn care for you, but if you must do it yourself consider the protective measures you can take.
"Wraparound sunglasses or a mask can help stop excess pollen entering your nose and eyes when gardening. Likewise, wearing gloves can help prevent face touching and spreading pollen onto yourself," says TV Pharmacist Thorrun Govind.
Thorrun is a pharmacist who is regularly featured in the media. She has over a decade of experience in healthcare and raising the profile of the pharmacy profession and healthcare in general.
4. Or ditch the lawn completely...
Grass pollen seasons can be quite long, potentially causing months of discomfort to people who are sensitive to that type of pollen. According to the Met Office, the grass pollen season lasts from mid-May until July, and weed pollen arrives from the end of June to September.
If you really struggle with hay fever, even with the aid of antihistamines, you may want to ask yourself whether a lawn is the best thing for you.
Plant life and greenery can still be achieved with large flowerbeds containing low-allergen plants and instead of a lawn, why not create a low-maintenance gravel garden?
5. Dampen the pollen with water
"Consider using a sprinkler on your lawn before a gardening session, as this will help to ‘dampen’ the pollen somewhat and keep it close to the ground; as some plants stop pollen shedding in wet conditions," says James Ewens.
So perhaps try to time your watering sessions for when you have an evening meal in the garden planned. As long as you don't plan to sit on your lawn, give it a good drink of water, as well as the pollen-filled plants in your flower beds and pots.
If you're concerned with how much water a garden sprinkler uses then an eco-friendly gardening method would be to install a water butt and go over your garden manually with a watering can.
6. Stay on top of weeds
Just like grass, many weeds are also wind pollinated and the pollen can be easily inhaled, making hay fever symptoms worse.
"Daisies and dandelions are popular additions to a lawn, but these are some of the worst culprits for high pollen," says Lucie Bradley.
"Creeping thistle and ragwort have all been known to cause hay fever symptoms too," says Laura Juniper, garden expert at Garden Buildings Direct.
The key to keeping weeds out of your garden is to try and do little and often when it comes to weeding. Rather than leaving it for weeks and then having to spend hours tackling the issue, a few minutes here and there on a regular basis can help to keep them at bay.
A handy weeding tool, like this long-handled weed puller from Amazon, will help to make light work of the task.
Shop gardening gloves for your weeding tasks
These allow plenty of dexterity whilst still providing ample protection for all types of gardening jobs. They're nice and close at the wrist to keep the pollen away from the hands.
This two-pack of gardening gloves is incredible value. They are latex coated, therefore aren't suitable for those with latex allergies. But otherwise they are a waterproof option.
These vegan-friendly gloves are super lightweight and super tough. They come in a variety of sizes meaning a guaranteed fit which will keep your hands protected from pollen.
7. Shower and change your clothes
Pollen can attach itself to your body and clothes, so you need to avoid having pollen being spread inside your house after a session in the garden.
"Once you’ve finished your gardening, jump in the shower and wash your hair, hands and face thoroughly to remove trapped allergens, and put on a change of clothes straight away. Get your gardening clothes in the wash to stop pollen spreading elsewhere," says James Ewens.
Thorrun Govind also advises that you avoid sitting on any furniture in your outside clothes, especially your bed, as this can transfer pollen onto the surface and irritate allergies further.
FAQs
What are the best garden plants for hay fever sufferers?
James Ewens, commercial director at Green Feathers gives his list of considerations to make when choosing the best plants for hayfever:
- Choose insect-pollinated plants over wind-pollinated ones. Insect-pollinated plants have heavier pollen that doesn't travel as far through the air.
- Opt for plants with less showy flowers, as they tend to produce less pollen.
- Consider planting female plants over male plants. Female plants don't shed pollen and can trap pollen from males.
- Some good choices for low-allergen plants include: roses, sunflowers, hollyhocks, petunias, geraniums, lavender, and ornamental grasses.
- Avoid plants known for high pollen counts such as birch, oak, hazel, ash, and ragweed.
If you're finding hay fever friendly gardening too stressful, then consider bringing in a professional. Read our guide on working with a landscape designer for top tips.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.
