Question
Hi there Jim,i'm getting an allergic reaction each time i go to the end of my garden!As weird as it sounds my ears swell a little and i can only put it down to the vegetation in the suspected area which is two things,one being a cluster of huge 30ft conifers and two ,a compost heap that has been left behind my garden fence .I wanted to ask if the pollen from conifers is seasonal or do the trees produce it all year round?

Many thanks Lloyd

Answer
Conifers pollen in the early spring as the new growth starts. They only produce pollen once a year. I would look at the compost heap. The compost is being broken down by decay fungi and mold The spores from the fungi and mold could be the allergic reaction you are getting. covering it with a tarp may help but you will need a tarp that will allow water (rain) to enter to keep the compost damp.

The symptoms of mold allergies are very much alike other allergic reactions. Sufferers encounter various problems from a runny or blocked nose, skin rashes, itching, sneezing, and wheezing. Reaction times can fluctuate dramatically from immediate to delayed. The mold spores can produce hay fever symptoms by landing on the nasal linings. If the mildew should travel further and reach the lungs, asthma type reactions can be provoked.

The person who is allergic to the outdoor molds will find their symptoms tend to worsen through the peak of summer. This is due to thawing molds flourishing on the plant life that has been killed off with the snow and frosts of winter. Snow does not kill molds, but does significantly lower the counts of the outdoor molds. If you live in a milder part of the United States, you may find that your problems are with you year round, as there is no cold winter to repress the molds.

If you know that you are allergic to mold, or prone to bouts of hay fever or asthma, ask someone else in your family to turn the compost heap to avoid unnecessary contact with molds.