EVERY TREE THAT'S MAKING YOU SNEEZE (AND WHEN THEY STOP)

Tree pollen season is the first wave of misery every year. While grass and weed pollen get their turn later, trees kick things off as early as January in warmer climates. And unlike a cold that goes away in a week, tree pollen season can drag on for months.

Not every tree is a problem though. Some produce heavy, sticky pollen that insects carry around. That stuff doesn't really bother allergy sufferers because it doesn't get into the air. The trees you need to worry about are the ones that use wind to spread their pollen. They dump huge amounts of lightweight pollen into the air, and your nose catches it.

THE WORST OFFENDERS

These are the trees that cause the most allergic reactions:

• ─ Oak: The heavyweight champion. Produces enormous amounts of pollen from February through May. Responsible for that yellow dust covering everything in spring.
• ─ Birch: Especially bad in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. Peaks March through May. If you're allergic to birch, you might also react to apples, cherries, and almonds (that's called oral allergy syndrome).
• ─ Cedar/Juniper: Mountain cedar in Texas and the Southwest can cause "cedar fever" starting in December. Juniper pollen can travel hundreds of miles.
• ─ Ash: A moderate allergen that peaks in spring. Common in urban areas because ash trees are popular for landscaping.
• ─ Maple: Peaks early, often February through April. Red maples are more allergenic than sugar maples.
• ─ Elm: Another early bloomer. Can start pollinating in late winter before most other trees.

WHEN DOES IT END?

Tree pollen season wraps up by late May or early June in most of the US. In the South, it can start winding down by April for some species. In the Pacific Northwest, it might drag into June.

The tricky part is that different trees peak at different times, so the season feels longer than any single tree's pollen window. You might get a break from birch just in time for oak to ramp up.

CROSS-REACTIONS WITH FOOD

This one catches people off guard. If you're allergic to certain tree pollens, you might also get an itchy mouth or scratchy throat from raw fruits and vegetables. It's called oral allergy syndrome. Your immune system sees the proteins in those foods and thinks it's pollen.

• ─ Birch pollen: can cross-react with apples, pears, cherries, peaches, carrots, celery, and almonds
• ─ Alder pollen: can cross-react with apples, cherries, peaches, and parsley
• ─ Grass pollen: can cross-react with tomatoes, potatoes, and melons

WHAT HELPS DURING TREE POLLEN SEASON

The usual allergy advice applies, but a few things are specific to tree pollen season.

• ─ Start taking allergy meds 1-2 weeks before your tree pollen season typically begins. Getting ahead of it makes a big difference.
• ─ If you're doing yard work, wear a mask. Raking leaves or mowing near trees stirs up a ton of settled pollen.
• ─ Nasal rinses (like a neti pot) after being outside can wash pollen out before it triggers a full reaction.
• ─ Track which specific trees affect you. Knowing your triggers lets you plan around their peak weeks instead of dreading the entire season.