Plants keep your garden office healthy

Chemicals are found in many everyday shedworking situations, writes Richard Boyd, director of garden design specialists Real Oasis. Benzene, for example, is found in inks, paints and plastics and can cause nausea, headaches and blurry vision as well as being linked to kidney damage. Formaldehyde, a chemical found in pretty much all indoor environments including foam insulation and pressed wood products, irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat.

The answer? As you know, it’s simple: get a plant for your shed to help filter the air and reduce the noxious rubbish hanging around. A plant, yes, but which one? A Spider plant could be a good start since scientists estimate that they remove more than 95% of carbon monoxide from the air. To combat the nastiness of Formaldehyde you could try one of the following:
* Azalea
* Dieffenbachia
* Philodendron
* Spider plant (pictured)
* Golden pathos
* Bamboo palm
* Corn plant
* Chrysanthemum

If you’ve got a nasty case of Benzene (or even Trichloroethylene) then you should consider bringing in perhaps an English ivy, Peace lily, Chrysanthemum, or Gerbera daisy.

This article first appeared in the current issue of The Shed. For a free copy email me here.