PA Trees and Spring Allergies: Trees you have to know about so you can avoid them

With spring just around the corner, it is time to talk about the most dreaded aspect of the season: seasonal allergies. Spring in Happy Valley is a time for beautiful blooming flowers and warm weather, but Pennsylvania can feel rough if you experience itchy eyes and a runny nose in the spring season. To help you minimize the effects of your allergies and be able to fully enjoy this upcoming season, we’ve pulled together a list of trees to avoid and tips to take to help you.

Springtime is the season that trees begin their fertilization process. This means that they are releasing their pollen into the air to reach other trees. Trees  produce small and light pollen that is easily spread by the wind. This makes tree pollen one of the major sources of seasonal allergies. In recent years, the Pennsylvania climate has fostered its trees to produce a higher pollen count. This means that the trees are beginning to send more pollen particles into the air and cause more severe allergies than before. With a higher pollen count also comes a longer pollination season, so trees will continue to pollinate into the wintertime. This means that in the coming years, your allergies will not only become more severe but also last even longer.

To properly combat your seasonal allergies, it is important to first understand what they are. Allergy symptoms occur when your body comes in contact with a substance it views as a threat. This substance is called an allergen. Tree pollen is one of the most common allergens in Pennsylvania. When you inhale, pollen in the air gets trapped in your nasal passages, starting an allergic reaction. Once in your nasal passage, the pollen attaches to mucus membranes, causing the inflammation and irritation that causes your common symptoms. The extent of your reaction depends on how much of a threat your body views the allergen to be.

Now that you understand seasonal allergies and how they work, it is essential to know what allergens to avoid. In Pennsylvania specifically, there are four main trees with potential allergens that could impact you negatively.

Black Ash

• Black Ash is most commonly found in moist areas. The tree has a rather narrow grey trunk, not usually more than 2 feet in diameter. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, usually including 7 - 10 leaflets.

Black Willow

• Black Willow is very well adapted to the wet climate and is usually found close to a water source. The tree gets its name from its dark-colored grey and brown bark with deep grooves. Its leaves are simple and narrow with a tapered tip.

Black Walnut

• Black Walnut can be easy to spot since is usually surrounded by the husks of its round walnut seed on the ground. It has a dark and furrowed bark surrounding its 30 - 130 foot trunk. The leaves are pinnate and contain around 5 - 25 leaflets.

White Walnut

• White Walnut produces a barrel-shaped nut that can often be found on the ground surrounding it. They can be identified by their smooth light grey and brown bark. The leaves are large, alternate, and have sticky hairs on the leaf stalk. They usually have around 11 - 19 leaflets.

Although avoiding common allergens can help to minimize symptoms, the effects of spring allergies are often inescapable. When it comes to aiding your symptoms, here is our list of strategies beyond what medical professionals might advise:

• Change your clothes after you have been outside 
• Take a shower after going outside to rinse out the pollen trapped in your hair
• Don't let your clothes hang dry outside
• Use a dehumidifier to keep your indoor air dry
• Filter your air with an air purifier
• Keep doors and windows closed
• Regularly vacuum your home to remove any pollen that comes inside

Need help identifying trees in your yard for removal, treatment, or pruning? Contact Cutting Edge Tree Professionals for help (814) 201-9757 or use our online scheduler here.

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