The lush, green majesty of the Pacific Northwest can be paradise for those who love the outdoors. Allergy season can be an equally huge drag, especially if you’re allergic to grass seed and other allergens that live in your natural lawn. We’ve talked before about how a synthetic yard saves homeowners time and money, conserves water, and is good for the environment, but did you know that it can help curb your allergies as well?

While artificial grass won’t cure all your allergic woes, since there are still trees, pets, and other pollens in your vicinity, here are a few allergens you won’t have to deal with if you choose to trade in your natural grass lawn for artificial grass installation in Portland, Oregon.

Mold Spores

If your yard doesn’t have great drainage, mold can grow wherever there is standing water. There are many kinds of mold, and for most types, a wet environment and moderate temperatures are all they need to create their spores. Portland, Oregon, is known for exactly those types of conditions.

Throwing millions of spores out is how a mold colony reproduces, and a single colony can produce a lot, simply because not every spore is going to land in a friendly spot. The more spores mold sends out, the more successful they’ll be.

When you install artificial grass, part of the process is to be certain that the lawn will have adequate drainage, which solves this problem. You should inspect your artificial lawn occasionally to make sure the problem doesn’t come back, but without constant standing water, mold will have a much more difficult time gaining that foothold in your lawn.

Grass Pollen

On top of that, natural grass itself emits pollen in the spring and summer, which can really ruin your day with coughing, sneezing, hives, asthma, or a combination of all of these symptoms (and others). Unfortunately, in Portland, the grass seed pollen season can last as much as half of the year, from April through September. There are many different kinds of grasses, and the most common ones that cause allergies are Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky, orchard, rye, sweet vernal, and Timothy grasses. To confuse things further, you may be allergic to more than one kind of grass.

With artificial grass lawn, you won’t completely eliminate the pollen in your immediate area, but you will significantly reduce the pollen around your home. It would still be a good idea to follow basic preventative guidelines, such as those recommended by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. For instance, you can limit time outside when the pollen count is high, keep your windows closed and employ your air conditioner, and use an air filter to help keep pollen out of your home.

If you’re used to spending time outside in your yard, a synthetic lawn can be a great upgrade for an allergy sufferer. Even if you don’t spend all day outside in your yard, going out in the evening or early morning when the pollen count is low may be a healthy substitute.

Ragweed

People generally don’t cultivate a yard full of ragweed, but it can still be present in a natural lawn. Found in both suburban and rural areas, ragweed begins to flower around mid-August (just as the grass pollen season is starting to wind down). Ragweed thrives in warm temperatures, reduced humidity, and breezy conditions, which you can expect in August and September in the Portland area. Artificial grass installation can be an optimal way to avoid ragweed growth in your yard since it’s inhospitable to weeds in general.

Fertilizers and Pesticides

It turns out that you can be allergic to these chemicals in addition to pollen. Allergy symptoms here may include respiratory trouble and skin problems, such as rashes, swelling, redness, pain, and blistering. Artificial grass has no need for these items to stay green and healthy-looking, so your exposure to them will be significantly reduced. Once you’ve installed your artificial lawn, allergy symptoms will be far less of a concern.

Some Other Advantages

Pets and Allergies

Did you know that your pet can also be allergic to grass? Just like with humans, our four-legged friends might experience allergy symptoms such as sneezing and runny, watery eyes when they come into contact with any of these allergens. Having artificial grass installation can be especially useful since cats and dogs can sometimes spend a lot more time outside than their humans.

Your pet might be experiencing allergy symptoms if you see them with weepy eyes, inflamed areas on bare skin, itchiness, or patchy hair loss. They could also develop upper respiratory symptoms, so watch for leaky nasal passages and swollen or irritated oral tissue.

With an artificial lawn, pets and other people are also much less likely to track allergens into the house when they come in from the yard.

No More Mowing

Part of the reason your allergies get worse after mowing the lawn is because grass pollen has been kicked up into the air. With a synthetic lawn, you won’t have to spend the time and energy mowing your lawn, and there will be fewer disturbances in the air—such as from the lawn mower or other power tools you might have used to shape your grass—to stir up your symptoms.

Hypoallergenic Materials

Synthetic turf is made of hypoallergenic materials, which don’t hold on to pollen. Natural grass tends to grab on to pollen, and all it takes is a good wind, a drive-by from a mower or other vehicle, or a passing person or animal to stir it up. This way, the pollen won’t overstay its welcome, and the concentration of pollen in your yard will be greatly reduced. In fact, if you’re in the middle of a pollen bloom, you can wash it out of your yard with a rinse from the hose.

Sportech’s artificial grass offers the best of all worlds. It’s less work, easy to maintain, and still looks great. Contact us today about artificial grass installation in Portland so we can help make your life a little healthier. Ask about our financing options.