Don’t let seasonal allergies keep you from your garden! Try these simple tips to keep allergies at bay this planting season:
Try to do your gardening late in the afternoon. Most plants release pollen between the hours of 5:00 am and 10:00 am, so pollen counts are likely to be the highest at this time. Gardening in the afternoon also protects you from the most damaging sun exposure.
Take care of weeds first. Rooting out the weeds before they mature to the point that they produce pollen can greatly reduce your pollen exposure.
Put on extra clothing. Wear a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt, a hat, gloves and protective glasses. After you are finished gardening, hang the clothes outside or put them in the wash.
Try gardening in the rain. Pollen counts are at their lowest on damp, wet, or humid days.
Keep it outside. Make sure to keep windows in your home closed, especially on dry, windy days and when pollen counts are very high.
Stay clean. To avoid spreading pollen around your house, take a shower right after gardening.
Allergic to mold spores? People with mold spores should wear a mask when turning the compost pile. Avoid working with wet mulch or straw, and limit indoor plants where the moist soil can create mold growth.
