Think that pine trees are to blame for the onset of seasonal allergies – you know, all that sneezing and those itchy, watery eyes that come along just as sure as the March winds blow?

Well, don’t be too quick to judge, says Cooperative Extension Agent Michael Ellington. The real culprits may surprise you.

Conifer pollen – the pollen that comes from loblolly pines and other species – is large and heavy, relatively speaking, which means that it doesn’t stay airborne very long, Ellington explained. Plus, because of their size, they are more easily filtered out by our bodies before they settle in places that bother us. That is to say, our noses, eyes and throats.

“The real villains are the ones you can’t see,” Ellington said. Grasses and hardwoods like maple trees release microscopic pollen that can stay airborne for miles and can slip right through our body’s initial filters. Their asymmetrical shape, which serves to catch the wind, is also what irritates our noses, eyes and throats.

So what’s a seasonal allergy sufferer to do?

One thing could be to choose low-allergy plants for your lawn or landscape. Get a list of low-allergy plants at the Cooperative Extension office, he said. The pollen these plants release is meant to be carried by insects rather than the wind, Ellington said.

Otherwise, wait until the late afternoon or early evening to get outdoors. And when you come back in, go ahead and change your clothes – or even jump in the shower – to further limit your exposure to pollen that may have gotten on your jeans, t-shirt or shoes.

The N.C. Division of Air Quality provides a daily forecast that can help sensitive individuals know when they should stay indoors because of poor air quality.

Find that forecast at https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/outreach-education-engagement/air-quality-forecasts

Another idea is to keep your lawn mowed. But Ellington said you may want to think twice before ridding your lawn of all those pesky dandelions and henbit that are prevalent now – they’re a key food source for early pollinators.

“There’s no rush to have the cleanest yard in the neighborhood,” Ellington said. The state’s economy is driven by agriculture, and agriculture would be sunk without precious pollinators.

If nosy neighbors have something to say about it, you can just tell them you’re “just driving economic growth in an eco-friendly manner.”

Other news from Cooperative Extension:

• The Vance County Regional Farmers Market has a new market manager. Her name is Christy Stanley, and she’ll be ready to welcome vendors and customers when the market opens for business on Saturday, May 2.
• The Cooperative Extension will host its annual Report to the People at the farmers market on Thursday, Apr. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. Come out to hear all the programs that are keeping agents busy and hear about all the upcoming events and programs for the year.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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