Weeds etc

I have read it is not safe to handle any garden chemicals while pregnant and inhaling was one of the risks outlined - just can't remember where I read it though.

I know it doesn't help you - but I make sure DH does all the outdoor chemical stuff for the time being.

If you really must do it before DH comes back - perhaps invest in a really good breathing mask as well as gloves (ensure clothes fully cover all exposed skin). And at the very least do it on a non-windy day and ensure you spray into the direction of the wind (so it is away from you) and not into it.

Hope that helps a little.

All the best.

Its a common misconception that organic = safe. Poison is still poison whether its organic or not. There are plenty of naturally occuring nasties that are used as organic treatments.

Can you coax a friend round to do the spraying for you in exchange for dinner or something?

Danaj - a safe weed killer to use is a mixture of white vinegar and dishwashing liquid (this helps the vinegar adhere to the plant) to kill them. It will only kill the leaves though, so you will need to spray it on the weeds over a period of a month so they cannot regenerate and store energy in the roots. To really make sure that you kill them to the roots, add salt, but remember you won't be able to plant anything in that area for a while, as the salt alters the pH level too much for anything to grow.

So a good recipe is (I use this):

1 litre of white vinegar
1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid
1/4 cup of salt (if you want to use this)

Just mix together in a spray bottle and use.

And the great thing is that it is perfectly safe to use while pregnant. Just wear gloves, and a mask if you don't like the smell.

I use to work in a garden centre for a couple of years, and it is something I always recommended to customers who did not want to or could not afford a commercial preparation.