For those who suffer from allergy season, pollen is one of the most common triggers.

“And along with allergies they cause build up in pools, build up on people’s windows, in gutters, things like that,” said Isaiah Smalt, assistant district manager for Davey Tree.

Which is why it’s important to know your pollen season and when your tree pollen count will peak.

“It starts mid-March, early March, and runs all the way through June,” Smalt said.

Many trees and grasses spread pollen in the morning, and some trees spread a larger amount of pollen.

“Hardwoods, specifically beeches, oaks, cottonwood, has been crazy this year. Maples you’ll see as well,” Smalt said.

Most trees have both male and female flowers, and for many species of trees, pollen is produced by male trees each spring.

“What you can do is understand the gender of the tree,” said Smalt. “The male tree is going to produce more pollen, the female tree will produce the fruit. So when you’re making a selection for your landscape, you can kind of choose a female tree versus a male, and there are options for sterile trees.”

There are also types of trees that produce less pollen in general, which may be a better pick for those who are allergic.

“So that would be like a dogwood, a crepe myrtle, a juniper,” said Smalt.

Because we can live without the pollen, but we can’t live without the trees.

“We see all the benefits that trees are giving us,” said Smalt. “The benefits are numerous. They outweighs allergies, in my opinion.”