COLUMN: Linn Mills

     Allergies and sinus headaches become the norm for allergy sufferers this time of year. One out of four of us will be seeking relief in some form or another.
      Las Vegas was once considered free of allergies, but that is no longer the case. In fact, Las Vegas might well be the last place an allergy sufferer would want to settle.
      Many of those suffering from allergies helped create the problem by bringing some of the worst pollen-producing plants with them. They wanted to make the desert a little more hospitable. Mulberries and olives, as good as they are, quickly come to mind.
      What can we do to reduce pollen pollution? Besides the experiences I've had over the years, the American Lung Association offers some suggestions:
      -- Be pollen conscious. Learn about the plants in your yard and neighborhood. If you are planting new trees and shrubs, call 222-3130 for a list of "sneezeless plants." You'll also find some of the worst offenders listed in the handout.
      -- Use hormones, such as Florel, to prevent olive flowers from opening. Follow the directions on the label for best results. Many gardeners claim fruit-preventive sprays do not work. Usually, the excessive growth of olives prevents good coverage. To overcome this, thin out the branches before application. The chemical must reach the crotch of every leaf to abort the flowers.
      If you question the use of chemicals, douse pollen-producing plants (olives and mulberries being the worst) with water early in the morning. The moisture clots the pollen to keep it from becoming airborne where it creates the allergies. Also, wash down other plants in the landscape to get rid of the pollutants on them. This is extremely important with oleanders, as their rough leaves trap everything but the kitchen sink.
      -- Keep your grasses, especially common Bermuda, fertilized and mow often to clip off the pollen-producing flower heads. Also, keep common Bermuda well watered, as it responds to drought by producing more seed heads. Better yet, replace it with hybrid Bermuda that doesn't produce pollen, even though you see seed heads.
      -- Keep weeds to a minimum, and by all means, never allow them to go to seed. Some weeds to look out for are: common Bermuda, pigweed, rabbit brush, common ragweed and tumbleweed. Tumbleweed is extremely prolific and becomes a problem in the fall. You'll find it in vacant lots, roadways and alleyways around town.
      -- Protect yourself and your family by planting shrubs away from the bedroom windows. Keep your shrubs out along the fences in hopes the wind will carry the pollen away.
      -- Showy plants with bright flowers (rose, petunias, fruit trees) generally do not cause allergy problems. Their pollen is heavier and requires insects to transfer the pollen from one plant to the next. It is a good idea to clip off flowering stalks on shrubs to get rid of any pollen that may be released.
      -- Replace heating and cooking filters often, as the buoyant pollen easily collects on them. This is especially true if you have children running in and out of the home.
      -- Clean up debris around the landscape and eliminate dusty areas. Debris becomes potential pollen traps and places for molds to form.
      -- If possible, stay indoors during the pollen season. This is generally during the next four to six weeks when mulberries and olives are blooming. If you do go out, wear a dust mask.
      -- Garden in the evening. It is advisable to wash your plants off first, as that is where most of the pollen will settle. After working outdoors and before going to bed, wash your hair. Pollen clings to hair and rubs off on your pillow to create problems through the night.
      -- If your allergies are bad, have someone else mow the lawn, rake leaves or hoe the garden when the pollen counts are the highest. I picked up on this one quickly. Or wear a particle mask.
      Here are some other tips from the lung association for outdoor exercising and traveling:
      -- Take an antihistamine or decongestant 30 minutes before going outside.
      -- Before exercising outdoors, do warm-ups indoors so you won't be outside any longer than you must. Do it in the evening, when pollen counts are lowest. Afterward, wash your exercise clothes to get rid of the pollutants that may be trapped on them.
      -- Avoid hanging your bedding and clothing out to dry; pollen and molds can collect on them.
      -- Avoid keeping pets in the home at night.
      -- Close windows at night.
      -- Reduce any water leaks in and out of the home to reduce mold formation.
      -- Always wear gloves and avoid wiping your eyes while working outside.
      -- Breathe through your nose -- it's a natural air filter.
      -- Vacation in areas of high elevation (over 5,000 feet); they have lower pollen counts. You'll find beaches and hot, dry areas also have lower pollen counts.
      -- Avoid camping in wooded areas where mold growth on rotted vegetation is high. If you do camp, wash sleeping bags in very hot water before leaving home.
      -- Keep your car windows closed and use air conditioning to filter the pollen. And avoid parking under pollen-producing trees as pollen can collect on the intake ducts.
      -- Avoid drinking alcohol during allergy season; it stimulates mucus production and dilates the blood vessels to worsen conditions. Smoking irritates symptoms, too.
     
      Linn Mills is a horticulturist for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.