Outdoor Allergy Triggers
Allergy triggers can find you anywhere. But knowing what kind of allergens may affect you and where they can predominantly be found can help you prepare yourself and your family to find an appropriate way to cope with them.

Grass Pollen
• Although more than 1,000 species of grass grow in North America, only a few produce highly allergenic pollen. That's small comfort if you're one of the millions of people affected by grass pollen. The most commons grasses that can cause allergies are Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Orchard grass, Sweet vernal grass, Timothy grass.
• If you are allergic to grass pollen and have a grass lawn, have someone else do the mowing. If you must mow the lawn yourself, wear a mask. Keep the grass cut short. Consider ground covers that don't produce much pollen, such as Irish moss, bunch and dichondra. You should remember that pollen can also be transported indoors on people and pets, so vacuum frequently.
Tree Pollen
• When you think seasonal allergies do you think tree pollen? You should. Tree pollen is one of the worst allergy offenders. First, it has a jump on all other pollen producers. In the South, for example, trees start releasing their pollen as early as January. What's more, trees produce light, dry pollen that can be carried by the wind for miles.
• Fortunately, fewer than 100 species (out of 50,000) are known to cause allergies. Some common examples include: elm, sycamore, hickory, walnut, pecan.
• In certain species, it's only the male tree that causes problems. Their female counterparts are completely pollen-free. Poplar, cottonwood, box elder, red maple, silver maple, willow, ash, date palm and Phoenix palm trees all fall into this category.
• Though less common, it is possible to be allergic to more than one tree. Some people have cross- reactions to trees in the alder, beech, birch and oak families, as well as the juniper and cedar family.
Weed Pollen
• We all know weeds. They multiply fast. But did you also know they're the most prolific producers of pollen. Ragweed is by far the biggest troublemaker. A single ragweed plant can produce a million grains of pollen a day. Yes, a million. But there are plenty of other high-producing allergenic plants: sagebrush, redroot pigweed, lamb's quarters, Russian thistle (aka tumbleweed) and English plantain.
• The season for ragweed pollen runs from August to November, but mid-September can be the worst time, when pollen levels peak. Also, be aware that pollen counts are at their highest between the hours of five and ten a.m. Another thing to keep in mind: allergies can be aggravated by dry, hot and windy conditions.