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Real-time pollen data for Garland — updated daily.
Garland's tree pollen season is defined by a convergence of ecological factors unique to its position in the DFW Metroplex. The city sits within the Blackland Prairie ecoregion, historically dominated by tallgrass prairie with woodland corridors along creek drainages. These creek corridors — particularly Spring Creek and Duck Creek — support dense concentrations of allergenic hardwood trees. Spring Creek Forest Preserve, a 200-acre old-growth bottomland hardwood forest within Garland's city limits, contains some of the oldest (up to 150 years), tallest (100+ feet), and widest (trunks 4 feet across) trees in Dallas County. The dominant species in the preserve and surrounding creek corridors are shumard oak, chinkapin oak, bur oak, and pecan — all heavy pollen producers. American elm, slippery elm, American ash, green ash, hackberry, and black walnut contribute additional pollen. Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen drifts north from the Texas Hill Country beginning in December, causing the notorious cedar fever that affects the entire DFW Metroplex. Live oak and post oak are prolific spring pollinators, with live oak catkins blanketing surfaces in visible yellow-green pollen from February through April. Elm pollen begins in January and overlaps with cedar. Pecan is a significant spring allergen peaking March through May. Mulberry, cottonwood, ash, and hackberry add to the overlapping spring tree pollen burden. Garland's extensive residential neighborhoods — many developed in the 1960s through 1980s with mature shade trees — create a dense urban tree canopy that concentrates pollen in residential areas.
Bermuda grass is the dominant lawn and landscape grass throughout Garland, producing substantial pollen from April through October — approximately seven months. Garland's extensive suburban development with irrigated lawns, parks, and athletic fields creates massive grass pollen sources throughout the city. Johnson grass grows aggressively along highway medians, roadsides, and disturbed soil — Garland's network of highways including I-30, I-635, and the George Bush Turnpike creates extensive Johnson grass habitat. Ryegrass is used for winter overseeding of Bermuda grass lawns, extending grass pollen production into cooler months. The Blackland Prairie ecoregion's historically rich soils support vigorous grass growth even in urban settings. The lakeside areas along Lake Ray Hubbard's western shore — where Garland borders the reservoir — combine irrigated residential landscaping with the moisture influence from the lake to support particularly lush grass growth and extended pollen production. Little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass are native tallgrass prairie species that persist in remnant prairies and road margins, contributing additional pollen.
Ragweed is the dominant fall weed allergen in the DFW Metroplex, and Garland's position on the eastern edge of the metro area means it receives ragweed pollen from both local urban sources and the more rural agricultural areas to the east across Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall and Kaufman Counties. A single ragweed plant can produce one billion pollen grains per season, and the pollen can travel distances exceeding 400 miles. Ragweed season runs from late August through November, peaking in September and October. Pigweed (redroot amaranth) is extremely common in disturbed soils, vacant lots, and construction margins. Lamb's quarters, kochia, marshelder, and sagebrush contribute additional fall weed pollen. The ongoing residential and commercial development throughout northeastern Garland — particularly areas between the George Bush Turnpike and Lake Ray Hubbard — creates continuous disturbed soil that pioneer weed species colonize rapidly, producing concentrated weed pollen sources near developing neighborhoods.
Garland's most distinctive allergen differentiator from other DFW cities is Lake Ray Hubbard — a 22,745-acre reservoir with approximately 128 miles of shoreline that forms Garland's entire eastern boundary. This massive body of water creates a localized microclimate with elevated humidity levels compared to inland DFW communities. The lake's moisture influence extends into Garland's eastern neighborhoods, where higher humidity promotes mold growth on outdoor surfaces, in soil, on vegetation, and within homes. Alternaria and Cladosporium are the dominant outdoor mold species, thriving on dead vegetation and leaf litter — particularly abundant along the creek corridors and in Spring Creek Forest's dense bottomland environment. Aspergillus and Penicillium species grow in indoor environments, especially in older homes with aging HVAC systems. The combination of North Texas summer humidity (the DFW area averages 36–40 inches of rainfall annually) and Lake Ray Hubbard's moisture influence means mold spore counts in Garland's lakeside areas can exceed those in western DFW communities. Thunderstorm asthma is a concern during North Texas storm season — storms briefly wash pollen from the air but trigger mold surges within 24–48 hours as moisture saturates organic material. Dust mites thrive in Garland's homes year-round, with populations peaking during the warm, humid months amplified by the lake's proximity. Pet dander and cockroach allergen are additional year-round indoor triggers.
Severity: Moderate to High
Winter in Garland begins with the arrival of mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen drifting north from the Texas Hill Country. Cedar fever peaks in January with intense symptoms — severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and low-grade fever — that many residents mistake for a cold or flu. Elm pollen overlaps with cedar beginning in January. Early mulberry pollen may appear in late February during warm spells. Indoor allergens — dust mites, pet dander, mold in heating systems — are primary triggers as residents spend time indoors. The relatively mild North Texas winter (average January highs around 57°F) means tree pollen can begin earlier than in northern states. Lake Ray Hubbard's moisture maintains mold at low but persistent levels throughout winter. This period offers the best window for starting immunotherapy treatment before the spring pollen explosion.
Severity: Severe
Spring is Garland's most challenging allergy season. Live oak and post oak pollen production is enormous — catkins blanket surfaces across the city. Shumard oak, chinkapin oak, and bur oak from Spring Creek's bottomland forest corridor and Garland's mature residential tree canopy add heavy oak pollen. Pecan pollen peaks in April and May. Ash, hackberry, cottonwood, and mulberry contribute additional tree pollen. By April, Bermuda grass begins producing pollen, compounding the tree pollen burden. The Blackland Prairie's fertile soils support vigorous early grass growth. Spring thunderstorms create cycles of brief pollen washout followed by mold surges 24–48 hours later. DFW's F-grade ozone pollution begins rising with warmer temperatures. The combination of overlapping tree pollen species, emerging grass pollen, intermittent mold surges, and increasing ozone creates the most complex respiratory period of the year in Garland.
Severity: Moderate to High
Summer brings extreme heat to Garland — average July highs around 96°F with frequent triple-digit days. Bermuda grass pollen peaks in June and remains elevated through August. Johnson grass and other warm-season grasses maintain pollen production. The defining summer allergen challenge in Garland is mold. July and August are the worst months for outdoor mold spore counts across the DFW area, and Garland's Lake Ray Hubbard proximity elevates local humidity and mold levels beyond western DFW communities. Alternaria and Cladosporium thrive on dead vegetation in Spring Creek's forest floor, Duck Creek's riparian corridor, and residential yards. Ground-level ozone peaks during summer heat — the DFW Metroplex has received F-grade ozone ratings. Ragweed begins pollinating in late August, signaling the fall weed season. Indoor allergen exposure peaks as residents maximize air conditioning time in sealed homes.
Severity: High to Very High
Fall brings the DFW Metroplex's worst weed pollen season, and Garland is positioned to receive ragweed from both local sources and the more rural areas east across Lake Ray Hubbard. Ragweed peaks in September and October — a four-month season from August through November that tests the endurance of over-the-counter antihistamines. Pigweed, lamb's quarters, sagebrush, and fall elm contribute additional weed pollen. Mold remains elevated through early fall, particularly after autumn rains saturate the organic material in Spring Creek's bottomland forest and Duck Creek's floodplain. Bermuda grass continues producing some pollen into October. By November, weed pollen tapers as temperatures decline toward winter. The transition provides brief relief before mountain cedar arrives in December, restarting the cycle that gives North Texas one of the most challenging year-round allergy calendars in the United States.
Garland's eastern boundary is defined by Lake Ray Hubbard — a 22,745-acre reservoir with approximately 128 miles of shoreline. This is not just scenic; it fundamentally affects your allergy experience. The lake creates a localized microclimate with elevated humidity that promotes mold growth in Garland's eastern neighborhoods beyond what residents in western DFW communities experience. If you live east of I-30 toward the lake, expect higher mold spore exposure during warm months. Run dehumidifiers to keep indoor humidity below 50 percent. Clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces weekly with mold-inhibiting solutions. Have your HVAC system inspected annually — aging systems in Garland's older homes (many built in the 1960s-1980s) are particular mold risks. HEPA air purifiers in bedrooms provide significant mold and pollen filtration.
Spring Creek Forest Preserve is a biological treasure — 200 acres of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest with trees up to 150 years old, 100+ feet tall, and hosting over 650 species of plants and animals. It is one of the few old-growth forests remaining in North Central Texas and is listed in the Old-Growth Forest Network. The dominant species — shumard oak, chinkapin oak, bur oak, pecan, American elm, ash, hackberry — are all significant allergen producers. The forest's bottomland environment stays consistently moist, supporting robust mold populations particularly in leaf litter and organic debris. If you live near the Spring Creek Greenbelt corridor (which runs from Shiloh Road to Ranger Drive), your tree pollen and mold exposure during spring may be significantly higher than in other Garland neighborhoods. Time outdoor walks for early morning before pollen dispersal peaks. Shower and change clothes after visiting the preserve during spring. Keep windows closed when wind blows from the creek corridor direction.
Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen drifts north from the Texas Hill Country every winter, and many Garland residents experience their first 'cold' of the year in January without realizing it is cedar fever. The symptoms — severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and low-grade fever — closely mimic a viral illness but persist for weeks rather than the typical cold's 7–10 day course. If your January 'cold' lasts more than two weeks, does not include body aches or high fever, and your household members develop symptoms on the same timeline, cedar pollen is the likely culprit. Start premedication with nasal corticosteroid sprays in mid-December before cedar peaks. Over-the-counter antihistamines can blunt symptoms but may not fully control severe cedar fever. A blood allergy test confirms cedar sensitivity and enables targeted treatment.
Garland sits within the Blackland Prairie ecoregion — historically some of the richest soil in the world, supporting vigorous grass growth even in urban and suburban settings. Bermuda grass lawns, athletic fields, and parks produce pollen from April through October — a seven-month grass pollen season significantly longer than northern states. Johnson grass grows aggressively along the highway medians of I-30, I-635, and the George Bush Turnpike, adding concentrated pollen sources along your daily commute route. For residents with grass pollen sensitivity, this extended season means over-the-counter antihistamines face an endurance test. Consider sublingual immunotherapy to build lasting tolerance rather than managing symptoms month after month.
North Texas thunderstorms seem like allergy relief — rain washes pollen from the air and outdoor counts drop immediately. But within 24–48 hours, the moisture saturates organic material throughout Garland's extensive creek corridors, forest preserves, and residential yards, triggering explosive mold growth. Spring Creek's dense bottomland forest floor, Duck Creek's floodplain, and the vast organic margins along Lake Ray Hubbard's shoreline are particularly affected. If your worst allergy days seem to follow storms rather than coincide with them, mold is likely your primary trigger. Monitor mold counts separately from pollen counts. Have rescue medications available for the 48-hour window after major rain events.
HeyAllergy offers telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. Book a virtual consultation from home in Garland, have allergy blood tests ordered at a convenient local lab, and receive a personalized treatment plan based on your specific triggers. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building tolerance to the specific allergens driving your symptoms — whether cedar, oak, pecan, elm, Bermuda grass, ragweed, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. In a city where lake moisture, old-growth forest pollen, Blackland Prairie grass, and year-round cedar-to-ragweed cycling combine to produce near-continuous allergen exposure, treating the underlying allergic sensitivity is the most effective path to lasting relief. Most patients notice improvement within 3 to 6 months. Starting at $47 per month.
March through May is the worst period, when overlapping oak, pecan, elm, ash, and mulberry pollen from Spring Creek's old-growth forest corridor and mature residential trees combine with emerging Bermuda grass. September through October brings severe ragweed. January's mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) causes cedar fever. July and August bring peak mold spore counts amplified by Lake Ray Hubbard's humidity influence. Garland has near-continuous allergen exposure from December through November.
The most common allergens are mountain cedar (Ashe juniper), live oak, post oak, pecan, elm, ash, Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, ragweed, pigweed, Alternaria mold, Cladosporium mold, dust mites, and pet dander. Most tree allergens come from the city's mature residential canopy and Spring Creek's bottomland hardwood forest. Lake Ray Hubbard's moisture promotes elevated mold levels. A blood allergy test identifies your specific triggers.
Yes. Lake Ray Hubbard — a 22,745-acre reservoir with 128 miles of shoreline — forms Garland's entire eastern boundary. The lake creates a localized microclimate with higher humidity than inland DFW communities, promoting increased mold growth outdoors and indoors in eastern Garland neighborhoods. Residents living east of I-30 toward the lake can expect higher mold exposure during warm months compared to western DFW areas.
Yes. HeyAllergy provides telemedicine appointments with board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas. Book a virtual consultation from anywhere in the state, have allergy blood tests ordered at a local lab, and start a personalized treatment plan without visiting a clinic. No referral needed and no waitlist.
HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy uses customized liquid drops placed under your tongue daily containing precise doses of the specific allergens triggering your symptoms — whether cedar, oak, pecan, Bermuda grass, ragweed, mold, dust mites, or pet dander. Over time, your immune system builds tolerance, reducing allergic reactions and medication dependence. Most patients notice improvement within 3 to 6 months.
HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans, including United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Oscar, and Tricare. Contact your insurance provider with Tax ID: 85-0834175 to confirm your specific telemedicine coverage.
Cedar fever is caused by mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen that drifts north from the Texas Hill Country each winter, peaking in January. Symptoms include severe congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and low-grade fever that persist for weeks — often mistaken for a cold or flu. Cedar pollen affects the entire DFW Metroplex including Garland. Start nasal corticosteroid sprays in mid-December before pollen peaks.
Spring Creek Forest Preserve is 200 acres of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest within Garland — one of the few remaining in North Central Texas. The dominant trees — shumard oak, chinkapin oak, bur oak, pecan, elm, ash — are all heavy pollen producers. The bottomland environment stays consistently moist, supporting robust mold populations. Residents near the Spring Creek Greenbelt corridor experience higher tree pollen and mold exposure during spring than other Garland neighborhoods.
Garland, Texas — population approximately 245,000 — occupies a unique ecological position in the DFW Metroplex. The city sits within the Blackland Prairie ecoregion at the northeastern edge of the metro area, bounded on its entire eastern side by Lake Ray Hubbard, one of North Texas's largest reservoirs. Where most DFW cities exist entirely within an inland urban landscape, Garland straddles two worlds: the dense suburban neighborhoods and commercial corridors of a major metro city, and the lakeside moisture influence of a 22,745-acre body of water with 128 miles of shoreline. Running through the city's center, Spring Creek harbors one of the few remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in the entire DFW region. This combination — lakeside reservoir, ancient forest, and Blackland Prairie — creates an allergy environment in Garland that is measurably different from other DFW communities, with higher mold levels, concentrated tree pollen corridors, and the same relentless year-round pollen calendar that makes North Texas one of the most challenging allergy regions in the United States.
Lake Ray Hubbard was created in 1968 when the East Fork of the Trinity River was impounded by the Rockwall-Forney Dam. The reservoir spans 22,745 acres — roughly 35 square miles — with approximately 128 miles of shoreline extending across Dallas, Rockwall, Collin, and Kaufman counties. Garland's entire eastern boundary borders the lake's western shore. For allergy sufferers, the lake's significance is not recreational but microclimatic. A body of water this size creates a measurable humidity gradient — moisture evaporating from the lake's surface elevates humidity in adjacent neighborhoods compared to communities further inland in the DFW Metroplex. This elevated humidity directly promotes mold growth. Outdoor mold spores — particularly Alternaria and Cladosporium — thrive on vegetation, dead organic matter, and soil surfaces when humidity is sustained. Indoor mold species including Aspergillus and Penicillium flourish in homes where the combination of summer heat, lakeside humidity, and aging HVAC systems (many of Garland's homes were built in the 1960s through 1980s) creates ideal growing conditions. The practical result is that Garland's eastern neighborhoods — those closest to Lake Ray Hubbard — experience higher baseline mold exposure than western DFW communities like Fort Worth or Arlington, adding a layer of year-round allergen burden that compounds the already intense North Texas pollen calendar.
Spring Creek Forest Preserve is one of Garland's most remarkable natural assets — and one of its most significant allergen sources. The 200-acre preserve contains old-growth bottomland hardwood forest with trees up to 150 years old, reaching heights exceeding 100 feet with trunks four feet across — some of the oldest and tallest trees in Dallas County. The preserve was inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network in 2024, recognizing its ecological significance as one of the very few old-growth forests remaining in North Central Texas. The dominant tree species — shumard oak, chinkapin oak, bur oak, and pecan — are all heavy pollen producers. Supporting species including American elm, slippery elm, American ash, green ash, hackberry, and black walnut add additional pollen to the corridor. The preserve and surrounding Spring Creek Greenbelt extend from Shiloh Road to Ranger Drive through the heart of Garland, creating a continuous pollen source running through residential neighborhoods. The bottomland forest environment stays consistently moist year-round — the creek flows over solid Austin Chalk limestone beds with towering 20- to 40-foot cliffs containing 87-million-year-old Cretaceous fossils. This persistent moisture supports robust mold and fungal communities in the leaf litter and organic debris layer. For residents living near the Spring Creek corridor, spring tree pollen exposure is significantly higher than in Garland neighborhoods without mature forest adjacency, and fall mold exposure remains elevated well into the season.
Garland sits within the Northern Blackland Prairie — an ecoregion named for its distinctive, rich black alkaline clay soils that once supported vast tallgrass prairies dominated by big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass. Only about one percent of the original Blackland Prairie remains, replaced by agriculture, highways, and urban development. But the ecoregion's legacy persists in Garland's allergy profile. The fertile soils — often called 'black gumbo' — support vigorous plant growth even in highly urbanized settings. Bermuda grass lawns, the standard turf throughout Garland's residential and commercial landscapes, grow aggressively in these nutrient-rich soils and produce prolific pollen from April through October. The creek drainages that run through the Blackland Prairie — particularly Spring Creek and Duck Creek in Garland — historically supported woodland corridors of cedar elm, pecan, bur oak, blackjack oak, cottonwood, green ash, and American elm within the surrounding grassland. These creek corridor woodlands persist today as mature urban forests that concentrate allergenic tree pollen along the drainage pathways running through Garland's neighborhoods.
Garland participates in the same relentless year-round allergen calendar that makes the DFW Metroplex one of the most challenging allergy regions in the United States. Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) pollen drifts north from the Texas Hill Country beginning in December, peaking in January with symptoms severe enough to earn the regional name 'cedar fever.' Elm pollen overlaps with cedar starting in January. By March, the full spring tree pollen explosion begins — live oak, post oak, pecan, ash, hackberry, cottonwood, mulberry — with contributions from Spring Creek's old-growth forest making Garland's spring tree pollen load particularly heavy. Bermuda grass joins in April and continues through October. Ragweed arrives in late August and dominates through November. Mold surges after summer and fall storms. The DFW Metroplex has received F-grade ozone ratings from the American Lung Association, with ozone amplifying allergic responses by inflaming airways and stimulating stronger immune reactions to pollen. For Garland residents, there is essentially no month without significant allergen exposure — a pattern that exhausts over-the-counter medications and explains why root-cause treatment through immunotherapy is increasingly recommended by allergists for lasting relief.
HeyAllergy's telemedicine platform connects Garland residents to board-certified allergists and immunologists licensed in Texas — providing expert allergy care from the comfort of home. A virtual consultation eliminates waiting rooms and scheduling delays. Allergy blood tests are ordered at a convenient local lab, and a personalized treatment plan is developed based on your specific triggers. HeyPak sublingual immunotherapy drops ship directly to your door and treat the root cause of allergies by building your immune system's tolerance to the specific allergens driving your symptoms — whether cedar, oak, pecan, elm, Bermuda grass, ragweed, mold, dust mites, or pet dander. In a city where Lake Ray Hubbard's moisture amplifies mold, Spring Creek's old-growth forest concentrates tree pollen, and the Blackland Prairie's fertile soils fuel relentless grass growth, treating the underlying allergic sensitivity is the most effective path to lasting relief. HeyAllergy accepts Medicare and most major PPO health plans. Starting at $47 per month for HeyPak drops, with most patients noticing improvement within 3 to 6 months.
