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How to Care for Potted Easter Lilies Native to Japan, Easter lilies have spread across the globe, thanks to their beguiling blooms and strong fragrance. In the United States, you’ll most commonly see these plants for sale in the spring, when the potted bulbs have been forced in greenhouses to bloom earlier than they would naturally (Easter lilies actually bloom in summer). Look for plants that have just one or two flowers open, with several closed buds on the stem, along with plenty of healthy green foliage....

Basics of Growing Berries in Containers Sun requirements: All fruiting plants, whether you’re growing berries in pots or in the ground, produce the most berries in full sun. Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. Water needs: Berries in containers need more water than plants in the ground. Because terra-cotta is a breathable material, plants in those containers dry out even faster than those planted in plastic or ceramic pots....

Growing Dill in Your Garden Dill is easy to start from seed and grows best when planted outdoors. Choose a location with full sun—at least eight hours of direct sunlight per day—and well-drained soil. If your soil holds water thanks to heavy clay, dig organic matter (such as compost) into the top few inches to help drainage. You don’t need to plant dill in rows. If you want dill plants to self-sow, plant them in clumps where the seeds can drop and grow the following year....

Raw chicken, along with all raw meat, can carry bacteria, and when you rinse it with your faucet or sprayer in the sink, you risk splashing those bacteria all around your kitchen. The bacteria can splash down into your sink, and water with bacteria from the meat could splash on your counters, your clothes, and other food or utensils nearby. Any of those surfaces can become contaminated, and give you and your family food poisoning....

Banish bacteria for good by installing a hands-free kitchen faucet. The device is motion-activated, so it will register your hand movements and automatically turn on when you need a wash. It’s a win-win situation: You’ll save time and water—all while boosting your health! Plus, a touchless faucet is fairly simple to install. More Disgusting Home Objects You’re Forgetting to Clean What You Need No-touch faucet and included hardware (we used the Arbor kitchen faucet from Moen) Batteries Drill 3/32 drill bit Screwdriver Adjustable wrench Tape measure...

Urethane foam trim is light, paintable, easy to cut, and will never rot—ideal for exteriors. The trim shown here can be purchased at a home center. If you need more choices, check online sources. You may need to measure your door and order the header—the horizontal piece at the top—at a specific length. The casing (the vertical parts that replace the brick molding) can be cut to size. To add trim to an entry door will take most of a day....

Cut Lilacs Strategically The best time for cutting lilacs is early in the morning when they’re fully hydrated. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to sever the stems, then immediately plunge them into a bucket of cool water. Try to cut the stems long enough so you can re-trim them every day to help maximize their vase life. If it’s a warm day, get your flowers indoors into cooler temperatures as soon as possible....

Why do some call this a jelly roll and others call it a cake roll? Originally, most probably called this cake type a jelly roll because it bakes in a “jelly roll pan.” Never heard of a jelly roll pan? That’s because we think of them now as 15x10x1-inch baking sheets or a baking sheet with sides. As the term jelly roll pan lessens in popularity, so too does the name jelly roll cake....

The outline of the path doesn’t have to be precise. If the edges of some stones fall slightly outside the edge of the path, that merely adds to the appeal. Stepping-stones are set individually in sand recesses, each excavated to conform to the shape of the individual stone. The path doesn’t require a gravel base, just a 2-inch sand base in the recess dug in the soil. Spacing for the stepping-stones depends somewhat on the purpose of the path and the speed at which you want the traffic to move....

To personalize your spuds, see the add-ins and seasoning ideas for your fried potato recipes below. Before getting started with any fried potatoes recipe, wash the potatoes with cool tap water and scrub them with a produce brush ($8, Target). How to Pan-Fry Potatoes Using Raw Potatoes Any kind of potato will work using this method for cooking fried potatoes. If you use potatoes with thicker skin, such as russets, you may want to peel them first....

PS: Whenever we hear the words “long-simmering,” our slow cooker comes to mind! This recipe shows you how to make pho using this appliance. That way, you get out of spending all day watching the pot. Step 1: Gather Your Pho Ingredients The first step in learning how to make pho is figuring out where you can buy the ingredients, including the vegetables, fresh herbs, rice noodles, sauces for pho, and pho spices....

If you’re planning to eat the decorated eggs, just swap the shaving cream for whipped cream! Substitute a store-bought packaged whipped cream instead of shaving cream for beautiful edible eggs—just remember to store them in the refrigerator. Gather your little bunnies and spend the afternoon dyeing Easter eggs—you’ll love how they turn out! How to Make Shaving Cream Dyed Eggs Supplies Needed EggsWaterSmall saucepanWhite vinegarLarge bowlShallow panShaving cream or whipped creamFood coloringBamboo skewersRubber glovesBowl of waterPaper towels...

Varieties of Poet’s Daffodil Small Cupped Daffodil Small-cup daffodils have all the same qualities of large-cup and trumpet daffodils, with the exception of the size of their cups. To be classified as a small-cup daffodil, the cup must be less than one-third the length of the petals.Most small-cup daffodils bear only one flower per stem. Blooms may be yellow, white, pink, or bicolor, and some are fragrant. Daffodils make good cut flowers....

What Are Strawberry Runners? Strawberry runners (also called stolons) are horizontal stems that grow along the ground. Each runner produces several new “daughter” plants that are still attached to the original “mother” plant. A daughter plant will grow roots where it touches the soil. Once the new plant is established on its own roots, the runner will dry up to separate the daughter from the mother plant. June bearing strawberries send out many runners after fruiting and are often more vigorous than everbearing strawberries....

Clear the Way for Painting Before you paint your room, empty the space of as many furnishings as you can. Push the remaining furniture pieces to the center of the room; cover the furniture with drop cloths to protect them from paint splatters. If you’re tempted to paint around switchplates and lights, don’t—small drips and spills are inevitable, no matter how steady your hand. Leaving them in will just make the job more difficult and time-consuming....

Turmeric stains are some of the hardest to get out, though not impossible. Related to the ginger family, the saturated golden-yellow pigment of this root spice possesses a lot of staying power, which is why turmeric is used to dye fabrics. Whether your recipe calls for fresh turmeric or its powder form, don’t worry—those pesky stains don’t have to stick. We’ll teach you how to remove turmeric stains from a variety of materials using common household products....

Before you begin removing water stains from wood surfaces, examine the color of the water ring. White water stains appear when moisture is trapped in the wood’s finish. Our cleaning methods work best for these types of stains. If the water rings are dark, the liquid has likely reached the wood itself, and you may need to refinish the surface entirely. It’s also important to note that some tough water stains may be best treated with a combination of cleaning techniques; experiment with each method as needed....

Safety Note: Never power-wash a surface with lead paint. If it’s possible the surface you’re cleaning was painted before 1978, you should have it tested before beginning any work. Before You Begin: How to Choose a Pressure Washer There are two types of pressure washers: gas and electric. They are rated for residential or commercial use, and the main characteristics for picking a model are the PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute)....

Before you begin, it’s important to note that paint-stripping chemicals can be dangerous. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before starting this project. Follow our instructions on how to strip and paint wood furniture to make old pieces look new again. How to Strip and Repaint Wood Furniture Chemical strippers are not ideal for large projects. For cabinets or large furniture pieces, you might want to consider heaters to remove paint or hire a professional to tackle the project....