In Georgia, tree pollen is the primary allergen during the spring and summer. Grass pollen begins to increase in the late summer and fall, as does weed pollen.
What’s more, a mild winter and a wet spring can lead to early plant pollination and mold growth, which can make your allergies worse through the fall.
The good news is that most of the plants that produce pollen in Georgia are wind-pollinated, meaning they aren’t trying to attract insects for their pretty flowers. The best way to avoid a long, miserable fall is to focus on avoiding the main allergens – trees and grasses – in your area.
You can also track your local pollen count and stay indoors in the afternoons when pollen counts are at their highest. It’s also a good idea to invest in a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly air filter for your home.
One of the most common sources of fall allergies is ragweed, a wild flower that grows across the United States and in many parts of Europe. It blooms from August through November and releases pollen into the air, causing rhinitis, runny nose, itchy eyes and asthma flares for those allergic to it.
Its nondescript leaves and drab, inconspicuous flowers make it easy for a person to forget that it is pollinating the air when they see it. The plants are most visible around the edges of fields and in wooded areas. The flower spikes are cylindrical and 3 to 6 inches tall. They appear green in the beginning but then turn to a yellow-green color.
