Having allergies, migraines and hay fever in my family makes my garden both a joy and a curse..... I love the idea of laying on the grass and taking time to smell the flowers but i cant touch either without wanting to rip my arms off from the itch.....My son has alas inherited my allergies and also has asthma..... He (of course) wants to have a flower filled and vegetable laden garden and so i have to be crafty in what i allow into my backyard..... When we moved into our house we had geraniums, liquid amber, jasmine,yesterday today and forever and lots of other flowering plants.... I was so upset when i had to rip alot of it out (otherwise i would never go outside again) but slowly i am replacing it all.... this time with Allergy free choices....

If you or your kids are unlucky enough to suffer from allergies or asthma, the garden can feel like the worst place in the world. Pollens trigger sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing, coughing, sore throats and headaches. and just getting up can feel like an ordeal.... Allergens also irritate the lungs, triggering asthmatic attacks. When an asthmatics lungs are irritated by allergens, breathing becomes difficult.

Having allergies or being overexposed to allergens puts your family at greater risk for asthma, so it's important to take care of your child's allergies before they become serious. Allergies run in families, too. If you have allergies, there's a greater chance that your children will develop allergies as well.

So how do we get an allergy free garden?

• First thing you need to do is take stock of what you have in your back and front yards....

1. do your plants attract rusts and aphids?
2. are they rotting from over watering? 
3. are they planted in the wrong spot? 
4. do you have stagnant water somewhere? 
5. do you have too much shade? Then thin out your jungle and get the light and sun in

            clear out the problem areas when you work out what they are......

• try to cut down on how many male trees you have as they produce pollens.......and go for female plants... Get trees grafted  so there are less  "single men" harming your backyard

• Plants with small, insignificant flowers are most likely to produce large amounts of pollen that are released into the wind and can cause an allergic reaction. Plants that have pretty flowers, attract butterflies and are pollinated by insects

• Keep your  lawn mowed and low......and make sure to fertilize when you can......close your doors and windows to keep your house free from the pollen during mowing

• Do your gardening after it rains as the pollen count will be lower  ....After working in your garden, shower and change clothes because pollen sticks to clothing, skin, and hair

• If you can, try changing your mulch for a gravel or stone type rather than pine bark, mulch or compost

Some Allergy free choices......

http://www.moscowfood.coop/garden/allergy-free.html

Flowers – daffodil, iris, hollyhock, impatiens, nasturtium, pansy, begonia, crocus, poppy, tulip, clematis, peony, zinnia,  fully double sunflowers, petunias, and roses.daisies

Trees and Shrubs – crabapple, cherry, magnolia, poplar, box elder, some maples (especially female silver and red maples such as Autumn Glory, and October Glory), willow, azalea, peach, plum, pear, and ash.

More info

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1998/archives/26/in_the_garden/gardening_tips,_books,_techniques_and_tools/low_allergy_gardens