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What Is Soil Blocking? Soil-blocking involves compressing a specialized soil mixture into cubes for seed germination. The free-standing blocks of soil have increased oxygen exposure on all sides, allowing roots to grow vigorously without confinement. Not only do your seedlings end up with healthier roots, they also don’t suffer transplant shock like other pot-grown starts do. Investing in a quality soil blocker ($19, Walmart), also called a soil block maker, is key to your seed-starting success....

French sorrel Rumex scutatus is a low-acid species well suited to the vegetable and herb garden. It is also sometimes called buckler sorrel or shield-leaf sorrel, a reference to its shield-shape green leaves. The young leaves impart a tangy flavor with hints of lemon. Old leaves may become bitter. French sorrel grows 1 foot tall and wide. Zones 4-9 Plant sorrel with Boost your backyard gardens with these ideas More Videos »

½ cup powdered sugar 2 teaspoon milk ¼ teaspoon vanilla Milk

¾ cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoon cold water 1 egg white ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ teaspoon vanilla

1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened ¼ cup butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cup powdered sugar Spun Sugar ⅓ cup sugar Prepare cake as directed through Step 3. Freeze cooled layers individually in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before frosting.

Spider Flower Care Must-Knows As long as spider flower is planted in well-drained soil with a decent amount of organic matter, it will bloom all season long. Many varieties of spider flower work as well in containers as they do in the ground. When planting spider flower in a container, give it some slow-release fertilizer or frequently fertilize the plant to support its prolific blooming habits. Supplemental waterings help establish new plants in garden soil, after which they are extremely drought- and heat-tolerant....

½ cup light sour cream 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon-style mustard ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed ½ teaspoon snipped fresh thyme (optional) Brisket Sandwiches with Potato Salad 1 portion of reserved meat and remaining portions of reserved potato mixture, cooking liquid, and mustard sauce from Sunday Brisket and Potatoes 4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted ½ cup thinly sliced celery or chopped red sweet pepper 1 tablespoon snipped fresh herbs, such as basil, dill, Italian parsley, and/or tarragon 3 tablespoon light balsamic vinaigrette...

Dehydrator Place sweet potato slices on the racks of a dehydrator. Dry at 145°F for 10 hours. Cool.

Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

1 cup soft bread crumbs 1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 1 tablespoon olive oil

“When shopping for a small dining table, consider its use and flexibility,” says Sarah Bernard, an interior designer. “Will it be a supplementary table or the main space for eating? Will it need to double as a workspace? For tables that may need to fill a range of uses, a leafed table may provide more versatile surface options depending on daily needs.” To find the best small dining tables, we searched through product catalogs and reviews to determine which ones offered the best combination of aesthetics, value, and performance....

When on the hunt for the best storage containers, Julie Morgenstern, New York Times Bestselling author of Organizing From the Inside Out recommends first taking an inventory of the items you need to store. “Before going shopping for storage containers, make sure you have sorted, purged, and grouped your belongings," she says. “Then you will be sure to get the right containers and really complete your organizing project.” To help you find the best storage containers for your home, we researched many storage solutions looking at size, capacity, material, and more to create this list....

There are certain times throughout the year when vacuums feel even more handy than usual, and the holiday season is one of those times. There are plenty of additional messes to erase thanks to extra gatherings, and then there’s the Christmas tree and its penchant for shedding needles to contend with. So, it’s like a gift to yourself to have a vacuum (or a few) that’s up to the task of keeping your floors in shape....