Allergy-Free Outdoor Living Yard in the Desert during Fall?

Desert fall brings a drop in temperatures but also brings fall allergies.  The weather becomes beautiful but asthma and allergy sufferers sometimes get cooped up indoors - and not able to enjoy the AZ outdoors like they so desperately look forward to after surviving 4 months of 100 degree temperatures.

Be the change, opting for hypoallergenic landscaping options that can help return you a great outdoors. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Even reducing the allergenic plants in a single garden can make a difference for asthma clinic patrons and sufferers, reducing pollen levels and the spread of allergenic plants far and wide.

Allergy-proof your yard with these suggestions from a Scottsdale allergy doctor & specialist:

• Fruit trees
  With the exception of citrus flower fragrance, fruit trees are generally not allergenic or irritating.
• Bamboo and palms
  Bamboo and female date and fan palms offer a beautiful, drought-tolerant option for your yard.
• Succulents and Cacti
  The following do not produce wind-born pollen and are excellent low-water choices:
• Saguaro
• Peruvian Cereus
• Golden Barrel
• Hedgehog Cactus
• Rainbow Cactus
• Easter Lily
• Sea Urchin Cactus
• Prickly Pear
• Cholla
• Organ Pipe
• Vines
  Hypo-allergenic climbers include bougainvillea, queen’s wreath, trumpet creeper, passion flower, cat’s claw, and roses such as Lady Banks and Tombstone.
• Shrubs
  The University of Arizona’s offers an extensive list of shrubs which are both low-allergy and drought tolerant.
• Accent plants
  For accent planting, your allergy and asthma clinic suggests various yucca species, agave, and aloe, as well as sotol, desert spoon, ocotillo, and Mexican evening primrose are your friends.
• Brightly colored flowers
  Attracting bees, insects, and hummingbirds, these flowers are generally not allergenic:
• Annual: California poppy, Mexican gold poppy; desert and arroyo lupine.
• Perennial: assorted penstemons, chia, globe-mallow, and Peruvian and Goodding verbena.
• Ground cover
  Morning glory, trailing indigo bush, lantana, African daisy, and rosemary, in addition to ice plant, treasure flower, germander, and gazania offer great low-lying options.

Pediatric allergists suggest avoiding these highly allergenic landscaping choices:

• Olive trees
• Mesquite trees
• Juniper trees
• Nut trees
• Bermuda grass and most other grass species
• Triangle Leaf Bursage (Rabbit Bush)
• Desert Broom
• Privet

Ready to head out and get started on an allergy-free outdoor retreat? You’re sure to get the job done with your local allergy and asthma clinic and the University of Arizona Agricultural extension service. Start sowing the seeds of change today!
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. Gardens Compatible with Respiratory Allergy in Southern and Central Arizona. http://allergy.peds.arizona.edu/southwest/lowpollen.html.
Dr. Aaron Davis, M.D. Cedar Fever is Coming to Town. Retrieved from: http://www.allergyasthmaaz.com/blog/.