Is gardening your passion but it makes you weep, wheeze, sniffle and bloomin' miserable? All is not lost. Allergy-free gardening is possible.

One of the joys in life for many people is tending the garden and sitting out in the evening to savour the fruits of your labour. But for those with asthma and allergies, gardening can be a pure misery. However, with a bit of thought and research, it is possible to create an allergy-free garden.

Plants, trees and grass

You can have a colourful display that won't get up your nose by choosing insect-pollinated plants. These have a much heavier pollen which is less likely to become airborne. You might be surprised to know that this group includes some very common brightly coloured and easy to maintain plants like geranium and begonia, crocus, daffodil, iris, lily, alyssum, pansy, petunia, phlox rose, sunflower, tulips and verbena.

Selecting plants out of this group will give all round colour in the garden. Do remember though, that some of these plants which are also suitable for indoor use, will behave differently in the house and can be quite troublesome as the flowers age and dry out – so keep them outdoors.

Thriving plants are what you should be aiming for. Plants growing in the wrong place that are not doing well are likely to attract insects and disease. Mildew will create spores and that's bad news for someone with allergies or asthma. Sunny gardens are best at keeping molds and spores at bay. So if you are living in forest-like surroundings, thinning or cutting down trees is a good idea.

Shrubs such as azalea, hibiscus and hydrangea are also suitable. Fruit trees like apple, cherry, pear and plum trees can also be part of your allergy-free garden. Male trees can be bad news. In some species the males produce lots of pollen while the female trees are pollen-free and can trap and remove airborne pollen.

Stay clear of wind-pollinated plants. Many grasses and trees and some shrubs are wind-pollinated. Also, hedges should be avoided as they collect dust, mold and pollen. Wood chip mulch or compost should also be avoided for the same reason.

There are more than 30 types of pollen and 20 types of spores that trigger allergic rhinitis. The most problematic trees are elder, horse chestnut, hazel and birch. Others to avoid are ash, beech, oak and sycamore. Weeds such as nettles, docks, plaintains, mugwort and nettles are also bothersome. Compost heaps are a definite no-no.

Lawns

Oh dear. Not good places. Lawns should be kept well fertilised and frequently mowed. A good tight haircut will keep a healthy lawn. Lawnmower blades should be sharp. The aim is to keep lawn weeds at bay.

The ideal situation would be that the person with the asthma or allergies is not the one to mow the lawn! The windows should be closed before mowing and for a few hours afterwards.

In an ideal world you would be able to start again and get in an expert to help you plan your garden, but that's not going to be an option for everyone.

This article was first published in the Summer 2008 issue of Asthma News.

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