Allergy Free Gardening
July 22,2012
Lisa Carter
At my company, Honest Landscaping and Interiors, I have been hearing from my customers a lot about allergies. Millions of people suffer from severe allergies. Some people don’t even plant a garden for fears of making their allergies worse. Fear not, I have some hypoallergenic plants and tips for naturally eliminating your runny nose and headaches.
What to plant:
You can always count on boxwood. Boxwood are slow growing, flowerless, deer resistant, and hypo allergenic. Boxwood makes a great hedge row or standalone plant. They also tolerate sun or shade.
Hibiscus is a tropical plant that can only be outside in the spring and summer months. They get a large flower but the pollen is heavy and does not travel through the air. Rose of Sharon is a perennial variety that does grow in our area. Be sure to plant in sun or part sun for best results.
If you are looking for a more traditional plant Hydrangea may be what you want. There are many varieties of hydrangea including bush, tree,and climbing. They get an abundance of flowers in bright colors. Be aware that the Deer love to consume the flowers so you may want to use a natural deer repellant. Some selections will grow in sun some in shade.
Daffodils and Tulips bloom in the spring. Once again you have an assortment of colors and varieties. Plant them in rows or clumps for the best showing and be sure not to plant them too deep. Ask your local garden center about the varieties you are planting. Plant your bulbs in full sun or partial shade.
If you want fruit trees plant Apple, Pear, Plum or Cherry. Be sure to net your fruit trees to prevent birds or deer from eating your fruit. The first year of planting will sometimes not yield any fruit. Be sure to trim your
trees properly. Call a professional like me if you need someone to do it for you. Partial sun or full sun is the best for all fruit trees.
There are plenty of annuals you can plant in spring that will not agitate your allergies. Let’s start with the ones that grow in the sun. Sunflowers, Petunias, Periwinkles, Daisies and Pansies are great and add lots of color to your garden beds. For shady areas plant Begonias. The Periwinkle and Begonias are also considered deer resistant.
If you like Roses you are in luck. Believe it or not roses are considered hypoallergenic. I would say to plant smaller budded Roses. Roses have large pollen and that is not transmitted through the air, they are pollinated by insects. You may also cut them and bring them in your home. Roses prefer sun or partial sun for best growth.
Finally, plant a cactus garden. There are so many beautiful selections that thrive in this area. Don’t be afraid to mix them up. I would recommend speaking to your local garden center about which Cactus they will be carrying. If you ask for different types they can probably order them. Cactus love sunny and dry conditions. Perfect this year.
This article is presented by www.honestlandscapingandinteriors.com, a greener way to do landscaping and interior remodeling. Please contact Lisa with any landscaping questions or for a free estimate at (727) 637-8014 or hlandscapeandinteriors@gmail.com.