When Does Pollen Season End in Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to Relief

If you live in Atlanta or visit often, you know pollen season can feel endless. Yellow dust on your car, itchy eyes on the BeltLine, and stuffy sinuses on your walk to MARTA can make you wonder: When does pollen season actually end in Atlanta?

The short answer:
Atlanta’s main pollen seasons usually ease up in late May to early June, but lower-level pollen can linger into late fall. What that means for you depends on which types of pollen affect you most.

The Big Picture: How Long Is Pollen Season in Atlanta?

Atlanta’s warm, humid climate and long growing season mean pollen hangs around much longer than in many cooler cities.

Here’s the general pattern:

• Tree pollen: Late February or early March through late April or May
• Grass pollen: Late April or May through June or early July
• Weed/ragweed pollen: Late July or August through October or early November

So while the worst of “peak pollen” (the yellow dust) usually fades by late May, many people still notice symptoms from grass and weed pollen into the fall.

Season-by-Season: When Pollen Typically Tapers Off in Atlanta

Tree Pollen: The Famous “Yellow Dust”

In Atlanta, tree pollen is what most people think of as pollen season. It’s what coats cars, patio furniture, and sidewalks in a visible, yellow-green film.

• Typical start: Late February to early March
• Peak: Late March through mid-April
• When it eases: Usually late April through late May

On many years, by early June, the heavy tree pollen counts that cause the yellow haze around Midtown, Buckhead, and Decatur are mostly gone.

👉 Key takeaway:
If tree pollen is your main issue, you’ll often feel a big improvement by late May, with much clearer air in June, July, and early August.

Grass Pollen: Late Spring and Early Summer

Once trees calm down, grass pollen takes over.

• Typical start: Late April to May
• Peak: May and June
• When it eases: Usually late June to early July

You’ll notice grass pollen more if you:

• Spend time on Atlanta’s parks and fields (Piedmont Park, Grant Park, Chastain Park)
• Mow lawns or attend outdoor sports
• Sit on lawns during concerts or festivals

👉 For many residents, June is when things begin to feel better overall, though sensitive individuals may still notice grass pollen into early July.

Weed and Ragweed Pollen: Late Summer and Fall

Just when summer seems easier, weed pollen—especially ragweed—starts to rise around Atlanta.

• Typical start: Late July to August
• Peak: Late August through September
• When it eases: Usually October, sometimes stretching into early November

Ragweed thrives in:

• Vacant lots and roadside areas
• Overgrown fields and edges of parks
• Disturbed ground along highways and rail lines

So while you may get a break in mid-summer, fall allergies in Atlanta are very common. Many locals feel symptoms again during September and October, especially on dry, breezy days.

👉 If you’re sensitive to weed pollen, your personal “pollen season” might not really end until late October or even early November.

Simple Summary: When Different Pollen Seasons End in Atlanta

Here’s a quick, at-a-glance view for metro Atlanta:

Why Pollen Season Lasts So Long Here

Several local factors stretch Atlanta’s pollen season:

• Mild winters: Trees and plants can start producing pollen earlier in the year. Some Atlanta neighborhoods see tree pollen in late February.
• Long growing season: Warm weather often lasts well into October, allowing grasses and weeds to keep producing pollen.
• Dense tree cover: Atlanta is known as a “city in a forest.” The abundance of oak, pine, birch, and other trees around neighborhoods, the BeltLine, and parks means more pollen in the air.
• Urban landscaping: Lawns, ornamental grasses, and flowering plants in areas like Buckhead, Midtown, and in-town neighborhoods contribute grass and weed pollen.

All of this means that while intense pollen peaks are short-lived, some level of pollen is in the air for much of the year.

How to Tell When Pollen Is Actually Decreasing

Instead of waiting for a calendar date, it helps to watch for local signs that pollen season is winding down:

1. Daily Pollen Counts on Local Weather

Atlanta TV stations and weather services often provide daily pollen counts and breakdowns by tree, grass, and weed pollen.

• When you see tree counts drop from “high” or “very high” down to “low” or “moderate” for several days in a row, the main tree pollen season is easing.
• The same pattern applies for grass and weed pollen later in the year.

2. Visual Clues Around the City

You may notice things like:

• Less visible yellow dust on your car in the morning in neighborhoods like Inman Park, Kirkwood, or Sandy Springs
• Cleaner outdoor seating in restaurants along the BeltLine or in West Midtown
• Fewer people sneezing or wearing masks for pollen on trails like Stone Mountain Park or Kennesaw Mountain

These are good indicators that the worst has passed, especially for tree pollen.

If You Live in Atlanta Year-Round: What to Expect Month by Month

Here’s a simplified month-by-month experience many Atlanta residents notice:

• February: Start of tree pollen (later in the month), especially during a warm spell
• March – April:Peak tree pollen; often the worst time for car coating and classic allergy flare-ups
• May: Tree pollen tapers off; grass pollen is rising
• June – early July: Grass pollen can bother some people, but many feel better than in March–April
• Mid-July – August: Shorter break for some; others start noticing weed pollen, especially on dry days
• September – October:Fall weed/ragweed season; big issue for many allergy-prone residents
• November – January: Typically the least intense period for pollen, though there can still be mild tree pollen on warmer days

So, in Atlanta, pollen season does not neatly “end” once a year—it shifts from one main source to another.

Visiting Atlanta: Best Times for Fewer Pollen Problems

If you’re planning a trip and want to avoid the worst pollen:

• For lower risk of high pollen, many visitors target:
  • Late May to early July (after tree pollen drops and before fall weeds ramp up for many, though grass pollen may still be present)
  • Late November through January (generally the calmest period for most pollen types)

If you’re sensitive, you may want to be especially cautious about visits in:

• Late March through mid-April: Peak tree pollen
• September and early October: Common fall ragweed season

Practical Tips for Managing Pollen in Atlanta

While this isn’t medical advice, there are practical, non-medical steps many Atlanta residents find helpful:

• Check daily pollen levels via local weather apps before planning outdoor activities.
• Keep windows closed at home and in the car during peak days, especially in the morning when counts can be higher.
• Shower and change clothes after spending significant time outdoors—this can remove pollen from your hair and skin.
• Use air conditioning and filters where possible, at home and in your car, to help reduce pollen indoors.
• Plan outdoor exercise strategically:
  • On lower-pollen days, choose exposed routes like the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail or Silver Comet Trail.
  • On high-pollen days, keep intense exercise indoors if possible.

For people with strong or persistent symptoms, local residents often consult:

• Primary care clinics throughout Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett Counties
• Allergy and asthma specialists in the metro area
  (A directory is typically available through major hospital systems and insurance networks.)

Key Takeaways for Atlanta

• Tree pollen (the yellow dust) usually fades by late May, bringing relief to many residents by early June.
• Grass pollen tends to ease by late June or early July.
• Weed and ragweed pollen often continue through October, sometimes into early November, making fall another active allergy season.
• Atlanta rarely has a true “pollen-free” season, but late fall and winter (roughly November–January) are usually the quietest months for pollen.

So, when someone in Atlanta asks, “When does pollen season end?”, the most accurate answer is: