As a result, people are dusting off their lawn mowers and gardening tools earlier than normal. For the more than 35 million Americans with seasonal allergies, a lawn or garden can mean endless sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and a scratchy throat.
Allergies can even trigger asthma episodes.
People with seasonal allergies can enjoy a beautiful lawn and garden with minimal allergy symptoms if they choose the right plants, trees, shrubs and grasses, say pollen and mold spore experts. To avoid symptoms, allergy sufferers should first identify which plants cause their allergic reactions. Skin testing by an allergist can determine which allergens trigger reactions. Allergists can help you develop strategies to avoid those plants that cause reactions and prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms. Allergy experts have found that some plants cause fewer reactions than others.