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How to Eliminate Plant Allergens in your Yard

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Posted in Yard Care 101

Woman Watering BushIf you are an outdoor allergy sufferer, you may want to consider allergy-free landscaping in your yard. Some plants and trees are less likely than others to trigger allergies. There also are some yard care practices that will help your allergic reaction.

Here are some things to consider when trying to eliminate plant allergens in your yard:

  • Trees that have long periods of bloom will disperse lots of pollen, triggering allergic reactions.
  • Shredded mulch that decomposes rapidly is more likely to harbor mold spores, especially if the mulch is watered often or remains damp. You may want to consider wood chips or river rock (or other decorative stone) as alternatives.
  • Trees have female and male cultivars. Ask your landscaper or garden center for only the female cultivars to eliminate pollen production.


There is an allergy rating scale for trees and shrubs to help you make the right selections for your yard. The OPALS scale (Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale) ranks plants on a 1-10 basis. The lower the ranking, the better the selection to limit pollen production in your yard. You may want to refer to the book, Allergy Free Gardening, by Thomas Lee Ogren, the inventor of the allergy scale which is also used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.






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