Springtime in Maryland is when warmer temperatures, more hours of sunlight, and frequent rainfall return and we get to say goodbye to the cold season for a while. Although all three elements are essential to the regrowth of greenery and plant life, they also mean one big problem for many people: spring allergies.
Tree pollen in particular is a primary trigger for allergy sufferers this time of year. Let’s take a look at why this occurs and how to reduce these irritants during the spring:
Why Does Tree Pollen Cause Allergies?
Pollen is a fine powder that male flowering trees produce in order to fertilize other plans of the same species. Fertilization typically occurs after the winter when temperatures and weather conditions are more favorable for plant growth. Unfortunately, pollen inhalation causes an adverse immune response (allergic reaction) in many Americans.
This is made worse when winters are mild and warmer than average. The higher temperatures cause trees to begin pollinating earlier than is normal, thus extending the length of time pollen is present in the air.
What Tree Species Cause Allergies?
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, there are 11 tree species that are known to be common triggers of spring allergies. These include:
- Maple
- Elm
- Oak
- Ash
- Red Cedar
- Birch
- Sycamore
- Walnut
- Poplar
- Hickory
If you have any of these growing outside of your home and you experience frequent allergy symptoms during the spring, it’s likely that the trees’ pollen is a primary cause.
How to Avoid Tree Pollen
Because pollen isa light and powdery substance, it is most present in the outdoor air we breathe when the weather is dry and breezy, as these conditions keep the pollen mobile in the air. On the contrary, being outdoors on a rainy, windless, or cloudy day is less of a threat to your allergies, as the pollen becomes heavier and damp, typically falling to and staying on the ground rather than in the air.
Although some of the pollen that triggers your allergies could have come from trees that are miles away, having any of the pollen allergy-causing trees listed above on your property is certain to make those allergies worse. Luckily, there’s a solution: proper tree trimming.
Get Help from Maryland Tree Trimming Experts
At Nelson Tree Specialist, we specialize in tree trimming and understand how uncomfortable pollen allergies can be. With many years of expertise and training, our arborists can provide the proper and professional tree trimming services you need to reduce your pollen allergy symptoms this spring. Give us a call today!