I am a garden expert. Here are the five plants you should not have in your outdoor space if you suffer from hay fever

Hay fever sufferers are already bracing themselves after Britain received its first pollen warning for 2024, weeks earlier than normal.

Usually the season of sniffing, sore eyes and runny noses begins at the end of March, when the weather begins to warm up, with the result that plants begin to produce pollen.

However, experts claim that the recent spring-like weather has caused a surge in plant growth, causing an early release of alder pollen.

It comes as Brits are also starting to spend more time in the garden as we prepare for spring and warmer weather.

To make sure hay fever doesn’t hold you back, Brian Davenport, co-founder of The Solar Center, has listed the five plants you shouldn’t have in your garden if you suffer from allergies.

1. RAAEGRAS

The first plant banned from the experts’ list is ryegrass, one of the most common grass species in Britain.

It is popular for its durability, easy germination and ability to thrive in cold and wet climates.

But Davenport explained that it’s not an ideal option for allergy sufferers because it is wind-pollinated — meaning pollen is loosened by the wind and spread through the air, eventually landing on our skin, in our nose and mouth and causes allergies.

He added: ‘Grass pollen is the most irritating pollen type for hay fever sufferers, and an estimated 90 per cent of people with the allergy are affected.

‘Unfortunately, ryegrass is common on British lawns, so it is difficult to remove it from your garden if it is already present. If it’s seriously bothering you, it may be time to consider artificial grass.

‘Otherwise, the easiest way to minimize symptoms is to mow your lawn, which will prevent flowering and minimize pollen production.’

2. DAISIES

Despite their delicate appearance, pods are one of the worst plants for hay fever sufferers due to wind pollination.

The expert reveals: ‘Like ryegrass, daisy pollen becomes airborne and can become a major source of irritation and classic hay fever symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching and coughing.’

He warns that chamomile flowers are in the same family and can have exactly the same effect.

We advise that it is best to remove any stages from your lawn and not plant them in flower beds or hanging baskets.

3. Ragweed

Third on the expert’s list of plants to avoid is ragweed, one of the most allergenic plants on this list.

Making itself a problem for allergy sufferers, ragweed can grow just a few inches or more than a meter in height and produce up to a billion strands of pollen during its lifespan.

Davenport says: ‘Like the other plants mentioned, ragweed pollen is very lightweight, so it can be easily moved in the wind and wreak havoc on allergy-affected immune systems, so removal from your garden is essential.

‘The easiest way to get rid of it is to spray the bunches with herbicide in early summer while they are still growing.’

He suggests, “You can also pull out the ragweed by hand. Gather as much of the root as possible in a gloved hand and pull hard, then dig up the remaining roots with a hoe to prevent regrowth.

‘It’s incredibly difficult to remove every bit of ragweed when there’s a lot of it in your outdoor space, but removing as much as possible can reduce the irritation.’

4. SUNFLOWERS

Sunflowers are a favorite in British gardens and easily brighten up dull spaces. But unfortunately, they do pose a problem for people with allergies.

The head of a sunflower is filled with pollen, which can be loosened by even the slightest breeze. The larger they are, the more pollen they will spread.

But that is not such a big problem, the garden expert explains.

‘Fear not, because sunflower lovers can simply choose to plant pollen-free sunflower varieties.

‘For example, the ‘Firecracker’ sunflowers are a dwarf species that only grows to a height of 90 cm.

“It is relatively much smaller than common sunflowers, which can grow to over six feet, but it has an orange-yellow color, similar to a classic sunflower,” Davenport suggests.

5. CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Finally, if you want to add some color to your garden this spring, you may want to use a few chrysanthemums if you have hay fever.

Despite their beauty, they have airborne pollen grains that can cause severe irritation due to the concentration of pollen between multiple flower heads.

The expert advises: ‘If you have chrysanthemums in your garden, you can exchange them for roses and peonies. The pollen of roses is too large to travel through the air and peonies are more likely to be pollinated by insects than by the wind.

‘Ultimately, there are plenty of plant-based alternatives that are safe for hay fever patients and that are just as beautiful as the allergenic plants mentioned.’

The advice comes just after Gardeners’ World star Monty Don released crucial advice, warning people to wait when it comes to one specific spring gardening task.

The British horticulturist and broadcaster, 68, advised his fans on his monthly blog about one thing they absolutely ‘shouldn’t’ do until ‘at least June’.

In the section entitled ‘Bulbs’ he wrote: ‘Do NOT cut back, tie off or tidy up the leaves of flower bulbs, but allow them to die naturally as next year’s flower is created by the photosynthesis of the foliage.’