What is Pine Pollen

Pine pollen is a fine yellow powder released by pine trees during spring pollination. In many areas of the Southeast — especially North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and parts of Virginia — pollen counts can become extremely high.

Pine pollen particles are:
• Lightweight
• Airborne
• Extremely mobile
• Small enough to pass through standard porch screening

The Raleigh are pollen monitoring station is located at 4403 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

The DAQ pollen sampler is operated annually from late-February through mid-November. The exact season start and end dates fluctuate yearly. 

Samples are collected Monday through Friday, except on state holidays, and represent the pollen count for the previous 24 hours. Each sample is collected for 24 hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. of the following day. The sampler collects pollen for 1 minute of every 10 minutes.

DAQ laboratory technicians analyze the collected pollen under a microscope and publish a daily report detailing the number of pollen grains counted.

Most recent Pollen report can be found here - https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ambient/Pollen.jsp

Historical Pollen trend report can be found here - https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiZmI3YWJiNWItZjMzNi00MGY4LWI0MGEtNDE2N2ZkZjZkMGE5IiwidCI6IjdhNzY4MWRjLWI5ZDAtNDQ5YS04NWMzLWVjYzI2Y2Q3ZWQxOSJ9

Historical Pollen trend report can be found h

1. Pollen Type: Individual pollen grains can be divided into three different types: grasses, trees, and weeds.
2. Number of Grains: This number represents the pollen grains counted on the pollen rod for each pollen type.
3. Severity: DAQ classifies pollen counts as "low", "moderate", "high" or "very high".
4. Pollen Count: The number of grains of pollen in a cubic meter of air.
5. Total Pollen Count: The sum of the individual pollen counts for grasses, trees, and weeds.Pollen Monitor 

It's made to stick around as pine pollen is composed primarily of:
• Proteins
• Plant enzymes
• Amino acids
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Cellulose-based outer coatings

The outer shell of pollen grains is made from sporopollenin, one of the most chemically resistant natural substances found in nature.

Typical pine pollen grain size ranges from approximately 45–90 microns.

Comparison:
• Human hair: ~70 microns
• Fine beach sand: 90–500 microns
• Pine pollen: 45–90 microns

Pine pollen contains two small air sacs called sacci that function like tiny wings or flotation devices.

These air sacs:
• Reduce weight
• Increase airborne suspension
• Allow pollen to travel long distances

Pine pollen has natural adhesive characteristics allowing it to:
• Cling to surfaces
• Stick to fabrics and cushions
• Coat televisions and electronics
• Adhere to porch flooring, walls, TV's, and ceiling fans

Without additional seasonal porch protection:
• pollen enters freely through screens
• airborne particles circulate continuously
• outdoor living spaces require constant cleaning

This is why homeowners are searching for porch pollen barriers and removable seasonal porch enclosures.

Traditional porch screens are designed primarily to block:
• Insects
• Leaves
• Larger debris

They are not engineered to stop microscopic airborne particles like pine pollen.

Every spring, homeowners across the Southeast walk into their screened porches expecting a relaxing outdoor space — only to find patio furniture, floors, cushions, televisions, and décor coated in a thick layer of yellow pollen.

Many people assume traditional porch screens should stop pollen intrusion. Unfortunately, standard screened porches were never designed to block microscopic pine pollen particles.

The result:
• Constant cleaning
• Unusable outdoor spaces
• Increased allergy irritation
• Furniture damage and staining
• Frustration during peak pollen season

At Porch Guard Solutions, we specialize in helping homeowners reduce pine pollen intrusion into screened porches using removable seasonal porch protection systems specifically designed for pollen-heavy environments.

Does pollen go through normal porch screens?
Yes. Standard porch screens are not designed to block fine pine pollen particles.

Can a screened porch be protected from pollen?
Yes. Seasonal porch protection systems can significantly reduce pollen intrusion.

Pine pollen season does not have to take over your outdoor living space.

With the right porch pollen protection strategy, homeowners can reduce pollen

Ready to protect your screened porch from pine pollen?

Get a free estimate from Porch Guard Solutions serving Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and nearby areas. buildup, minimize cleaning, and enjoy screened porches more comfortably throughout winter and spring.