Low Allergy Trees

AtomicOrbital · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 18 Jul 2010 Posts: 24

Hi all,

I've read http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about775.html which helps understand how to create a low allergy environment. I get the gist of it. Thanks for the info, and I've been looking at Thomas Ogren's book.

However, I'm hoping a few knowledgeable people might be able to short cut me to an answer.

My wife and kids all suffer from hay fever style allergies. I know we live in the country side and it's almost impossible to avoid. I know grass is a big part of it. I'm also slowly reading up on a large number of plants and trees to understand if we can make any helpful changes in the garden.

I have a large empty exposed windy pH-neutral-but-heavy-clay damp site of an acre and this past 4 years each spring I've failed to get practically any trees into the ground. This year I'd like to by 100 to 200 whips to plant (90c each approx) to get things started. I'm also putting in about 200 red dogwood as a backdrop. (I plan to fine tune it later when I have some natural screening and hope then other plants will survive better).

However, I've asked in both our local garden centres and they can't order specifically female trees. Nor could they recommend low allergy trees, due to never having been asked the question before. I really want to get some wind breaking trees going.

The Questions: Can anyone recommend any country side friendly trees that will have the least impact on pollen allergies?? I have to plant something and need to order it in the next week or so to get it at best price.

Cheers all.

Greengage · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:23 pm Post subject:

Have a look at this list from the Pollen free yard. most are available except (Diospyros virginiana) (Lagerstroemia indica) but someone will tell me where they are available. Check out the plantfinder for suppliers.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pollen-free-yard-trouble-free-trees.html

AtomicOrbital · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 18 Jul 2010 Posts: 24

Thanks Greengage. Probably a safe list. I've gone through the list via google image search, none seem to be the kind to blend in in an Irish country side. I have apple, pear, holly and dogwood in already. Just going to have to take a chance I think. Poplar's too big and the rest are very showy (with a LOT of pink).

Maybe a low pollen Irish (native) tree doesn't exist?

Greengage · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:56 pm Post subject:

Maybe you should get a copy of Thomas Ogren, author of Safe Sex in the Garden and Other Propositions for an Allergy-Free World ,
Available from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/278-5244303-5566717?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Safe+Sex+in+the+Garden+and+Other+Propositions+for+an+Allergy-Free+World+%2C