GUEST POST | Heritage Gardens March 2026
The Garden is Waking Up — But So Is the Pollen
What every gardener should know about early-season allergies in 2026 A guest post in association with The Devon Allergy Clinic
For gardeners, February is one of the most quietly exciting months of the year. The hazel catkins are dangling, the first alder flowers are opening, snowdrops are pushing through, and the urge to get outdoors with your trowel and gloves is hard to resist. But for a growing number of garden lovers, February 2026 has brought something else alongside those early blooms: the unmistakable itch of seasonal allergies arriving earlier than ever.
If you've been sneezing into your seed catalogues or rubbing your eyes after a morning in the plot, you're not coming down with a cold. You're experiencing the new reality of a pollen season that no longer politely waits for spring.
The Trees Are to Blame — and the Weather Is Getting Them Going Earlier
As gardeners, we're well attuned to phenology — the seasonal timing of natural events. And in 2026, the signs are clear: milder winters are accelerating the flowering of our earliest-blooming trees. Fewer hard frosts mean that hazel, alder, and yew are releasing pollen weeks ahead of what many allergy sufferers have come to expect.
The trees responsible for February misery are ones you'll almost certainly have in or near your garden, or along your lane on the way to your plot:
• Hazel (Corylus avellana): Beloved for its early catkins and wildlife value, hazel is also one of the most prolific pollen producers in the winter garden. Those golden catkins you're admiring? They're dispersing clouds of allergenic pollen on every gust of wind.
• Alder (Alnus glutinosa): Common along riverbanks and in damp corners, alder begins releasing pollen from January and peaks through February. If your garden backs onto a stream or damp woodland, you'll likely be getting a heavy dose.
• Yew (Taxus baccata): That stately yew hedge or topiary centrepiece could be contributing to your symptoms. Yew pollination runs from February through to April.
• Willow & Elm: Both begin their pollen season in February, often adding to the cumulative burden for sensitive individuals.
And this is just the opening chapter. By April, birch — the most allergenic tree in the UK — reaches its peak. If you have a silver birch as a focal point or windbreak, its pollen can travel kilometres on the breeze. Oak, ash, and plane trees follow through spring, meaning allergy season can run from February well into June for some gardeners.
Why Gardeners Are Particularly Vulnerable
The general public can at least shut their windows or limit time outdoors on highpollen days. For gardeners, that's simply not an option — especially in February and March, which are some of the busiest months for sowing, pruning, and soil preparation.
Working in the garden means sustained, close-up exposure to pollen at exactly the time concentrations are highest: in the morning and on dry, breezy days. Weeding beneath hazel, pruning willows, tidying up alder-fringed borders — all of these activities place you directly in the pollen zone. And for those also sensitive to mould spores, disturbing leaf litter and damp compost heaps adds yet another allergen into the mix.
There's also a lesser-known phenomenon that catches many gardeners off guard: pollen food syndrome. If you grow and eat your own apples, hazelnuts, kiwi, almonds, or stone fruits — and you notice a tingling or itching in your mouth when eating them during pollen season — your tree pollen allergy may be cross-reacting with those foods. It's more common than people realise, and often goes undiagnosed for years.
Gardening with Allergies: Practical Steps for the Season Ahead
You don't have to hang up your trowel just because the pollen count is rising. Here are some practical ways to keep gardening while managing your exposure:
• Time your gardening sessions wisely. Pollen counts are highest in the morning and on warm, dry, windy days. Gardening after rain, or in the early evening, can significantly reduce your exposure.
• Wear wraparound glasses in the garden — they reduce the amount of airborne pollen reaching your eyes, which are often the first to react.
• Shower and change clothes after working outdoors. Pollen clings to hair and fabric, and you'll carry it indoors with you otherwise.
• When disturbing compost, leaf mould, or bark chip, wear a close-fitting dust mask to limit your intake of both pollen and fungal spores.
• Check the Met Office pollen forecast before planning outdoor tasks on days when a heavy workload is planned.
• Consider starting a nasal steroid spray and non-sedating antihistamine now, before your symptoms peak — ideally a couple of weeks ahead for maximum effectiveness. Talk to your pharmacist or GP.
• If you have a silver birch, hazel, or alder that's close to where you spend most of your time outdoors, consider whether pruning or relocation is feasible longer term.
When Over-the-Counter Solutions Aren't Enough
For many gardeners, antihistamines from the pharmacy are barely making a dent. That's because managing allergies effectively requires knowing exactly what you're reacting to — and the picture is often more complex than simply "tree pollen."
Gardeners often have multiple overlapping sensitivities: airborne tree pollens, grass pollens, mould spores, contact reactions from handling plants, and food intolerances that are exacerbated seasonally. Without understanding your specific triggers, you're essentially treating symptoms in the dark.
Getting Proper Help: The Devon Allergy Clinic
This is where The Devon Allergy Clinic, based in Paignton in the heart of Devon, comes in. Led by Marlene — a specialist with over 15 years of NHS experience in allergy and digestive health — the clinic takes a thorough, personalised approach that goes far beyond what a standard GP consultation can offer.
Comprehensive Allergy Testing — Same Day Results
The clinic uses advanced electrodermal screening to test your body's response to over 70 substances in a single session. The process is entirely painless — no blood draws, no scratch tests — and you'll leave with your results and a personalised plan on the day. The testing covers environmental allergens (tree pollens, grass pollens, mould spores), foods, contact allergens, and digestive health markers. For gardeners with complex, overlapping sensitivities, this comprehensive picture is invaluable.
A Plan Tailored to How You Live — and Garden
Marlene takes a full clinical history — including how you spend your time outdoors — and develops a personalised allergy management plan. This covers the specific substances to reduce your exposure to, dietary adjustments (especially relevant for those with pollen food syndrome), and nutritional support recommendations to bolster your immune resilience. The clinic also specialises in digestive health, chronic fatigue, and skin conditions — often interconnected with seasonal allergies in ways that standard consultations rarely have the time to explore.
Recognised Excellence
The Devon Allergy Clinic was named Allergy Clinic of the Year 2024/25 by the Prestige Awards — a recognition of the genuine results their clients achieve. Inperson appointments at the clinic in Paignton cost £95, which includes the consultation, full testing, and a personalised allergy plan. Remote appointments are available at £75.
Don't Let Pollen Season Steal Your Garden
The garden in February and March is a wonderful place — full of possibility, early colour, and the quiet satisfaction of work well done. Seasonal allergies shouldn't rob you of that. With the right understanding of your triggers and a proper management plan, you can garden through the season with far less misery than you might think.
To find out more or book a local appointment or remote appointment via Zoom with The Devon Allergy Clinic, visit www.thedevonallergyclinic.co.uk, call 07810 750940. Alternatively email Marlene for more information info@thedevonallergyclinic.co.uk
— This is a guest post submitted to Heritage Gardens in association with The Devon Allergy Clinic.
