Spanish gardening problems, Olives and conifers have surprisingly high pollen counts

Many of those moving out here and gardening for the first time in Spain may not be aware of the increased risks of allergies and hay fever when planting certain types of plants in their domestic environments.

We posted a news article about the problems being experienced this spring due to the high levels of pollen in the air following heavy rainfalls and the abundance of olive flowers in the campo this year.

Olives have a particularly potent pollen count which causes a lot of problems for allergy sufferers, and is something that many ex-pats will not be aware of when planting gardens in spain, so if you do suffer from allergies, choose your plants carefully.

The list below relates to plants in the coastal area of Murcia, around Cartagena in particular, but many of the plants listed below grow extensively in the north as well.

We have also given measures to help you avoid pollen exposure if you are unfortunate enough to be a sufferer.

It has been said that if you do suffer in an extreme form, to make this known to your gp and they will be able to prescribe treatments which will help to prepare your body before the pollen count climbs.

 

These are the main plants to be aware of, when they flower and some recommended measures to minimize the risk of allergies.

 

October, November and part of December members of the Ragweed family, which is a large family of 180 genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs have a strong presence, a single ragweed plant having the capability to produce a billion grains of pollen per season and grains able to travel more than 400km on the wind.

In December the Cupressaceae ( cypress and cedar trees) come into flower, and remain the main cause of hayfever and allergies   throughout January and February, there being many of these in the region as it is the most common form of hedging here, although many may not realise that the plants are actually in flower as the "flowers" are not instantly recognisable as such.

In March and April grass pollens are the main culprits, cereal crops falling into this category, widely grown on the plains of the Altiplano in the north of the region, followed in May and June by the worst culprits, Olive Trees.
Again, many are unaware that the olive trees are in flower , as the actual blossom is tiny and barely noticeable, but emits powerful concentrations of pollen, causing a great deal of problems for many people

Anyone who is prone to hay fever, asthma or allergies is advised to be prepared, and the following preventative advice is offered:
Keep windows closed at all times during times of concentration to prevent pollen from drifting into your home.
Use air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries the air
Minimize outdoor activity when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen times are usually between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 Keep your car windows closed when traveling
Take a shower after spending time outside - pollen can collect on your hair and skin
Don't hang sheets or clothing outside to dry. Pollens can collect on them
Minimize exposure to other known allergens during peak seasons, since symptoms are the result of a cumulative effect of multiple allergens and non-allergic triggers
Get up-to-date pollen information about your area .

 

 

 

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