For gardeners with allergies, spring is a mixed blessing. The beautiful weather and blooming buds that result in eye-catching color and a bountiful harvest are often the same culprits that cause eye irritation, sneezing and other symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.

Learn how to minimize the suffering and symptoms associated with seasonal allergies without sacrificing your beautiful yard or garden with these quick tips.

The first step in easing your allergies while gardening is to select and purchase the right plants. As most allergy sufferers know, there are certain shrubs, flowers and trees that should be avoided while others seem to cause very few symptoms. Because each individual is different, it is important to perform your own quick "test" to eliminate potentially problematic plants prior to bringing them home.

1. Avoid any plants that have caused an allergic reaction in the past including eye irritation, skin rash, sniffles, sneezing or other sensitivity.
2. Avoid close "relatives" or "cousins" of plants known to cause an allergy; for example, someone who is allergic to onions should avoid working with lilies in the garden since they are closely related.
3. Avoid "male" versions of common trees, shrubs and other plants — the pollen produced by the "male" plant is a common allergic trigger among many people who may exhibit no symptoms in the presence of a "female" version of the same plant. Specific "male" and "female" characteristics vary depending on plant species and current stage of growth, but the information is typically listed on the plant tag. Be sure to ask a nursery associate if you have trouble.
4. Avoid poisonous plants like poinsettias and oleanders; not only are they known to be poisonous to birds and other animals but they often contain massive amounts of pollen that can be especially irritating to allergy-prone individuals.

Several common plants are severe allergy-producers. Whenever possible, avoid these common culprits.

• Flowers: Aromatic flowers may be springtime favorites, but the same essential oils that attract bees and butterflies are equally likely to trigger symptoms in those prone to nasal allergies.
  Avoid: Jasmine, lantana, daisies, goldenrod, lilies, wildflower blends and other fragrant flowers.
• Shrubs & Ornamentals: Many ornamental “grasses” and shrubs are well-known offenders capable of producing many airborne particles that irritate eyes and sensitive mucus membranes.
  Avoid: Fountain grass, coyote brush and acacia shrubs.
• Trees: Many trees are frequently associated with the worsening of allergy symptoms due to their extensive production of pollen during spring season.
  Avoid: Pecan, live oak, sycamore, bottlebrush, pepper trees and Chinese elm trees.

When shopping for spring annuals, search for these low-pollen plants for beautiful allergy-free alternatives to your traditional selections.

• Flowers: It’s easy to add a splash of color without causing the suffering associated with seasonal allergies when you add the pretty pink and purples of petunias to the garden. Versatile enough for pots or bedding, petunias are a super-low pollen plant unlikely to cause allergic reactions. Other popular flowering examples include begonia, crocus, hosta and geranium.
• Shrubs: Female junipers are an excellent allergy-free shrub. Juniper gender is easy to determine as females produce visible berry-like cones, while male junipers generate barely noticeable pollen cones. Search for fruiting varieties like blue point, Hollywood juniper and others for a low-maintenance ground cover or attractive shrub that makes a dramatic backdrop to any landscape. Other popular alternatives include boxwood shrubs and rhododendron.
• Trees: Female red maple trees, Japanese camellia and mulberry are excellent selections for allergy sufferers. Remember, avoid male-producing pollen-prone varieties and purchase female fruiting trees instead.
• Lawn grass: Allergy sufferers would do well to keep their lawn trim and neat. While many lawns do produce pollen, especially common Bermuda grass lawns, any well-maintained lawn produces far less, and is actually an effective pollen trap. While pollen settles and blows freely on cement and other smooth surfaces, grass blades will catch pollen while rain and water from sprinklers drive it down into the earth.