Prevention is key to managing this widespread plant disease. Even some turf grasses are susceptible to powdery mildew. Gardeners find infected plants unsightly, and severe infections can cause foliage to turn yellow and drop prematurely. Credit:Getty Images Powdery mildew is difficult to control once plants are infected. Powdery mildew appears as white to gray spots or patches on leaves, stems, fruits, or flowers. The spots have a powdery-looking appearance, giving the disease complex itsname....

This simple test lets you know if your yeast is still good. Few things are as wonderful ashomemade bread. Crusty loaves elevate the humble sandwich, while fluffydinner rollsprove irresistible on the supper table. Credit: Getty Images Don’t even get us started on the magic of ahomemade cinnamon rolldripping in icing. The key to the success of all these recipes (and more)? Without good yeast, your breads won’t rise, yielding instead a dense, decidedly less tasty result....

These holiday favorites are easy to propagate from cuttings to grow gifts for family and friends. Getty Images TheChristmas cactusis a beautiful low-maintenance houseplant that blooms year after year just in time for the holidays. These long-lived plants can survive for decades and are often passed from one generation to the next. Credit:Getty Images They also make wonderful gifts. Fortunately, the propagation method is the same regardless of which species or hybrid you own....

Free plants, anyone? They’re fluffy and vibrant, and for many, a symbol of nostalgia. This downside comes with an easy solution: propagation. Credit: Getty Images Instead of purchasingnew shrubs, grow them with cuttings! It only takes five simple steps. Here’s how to propagate your hydrangeas. This allows the rooted cutting a full growing season to develop before becomingdormant in the winter. This is critical to remember, as the roots will form from the bottom nodes....

We take wedding etiquette seriously. For formal wedding invitations, follow these guidelines for how to address invitations to ensure they are exceptional. We take our weddingsand our wedding etiquetteseriously. Credit: Jason Wallis When it comes to formal wedding invitations, understanding the appropriate titles and abbreviations is a colossal headache. As if planning your entire dream wedding is not hard enough. It’s easy to be intimidated by the formal rules of appropriately addressing your wedding invitations....

Since Southerners arenatural entertainers, we always want our linens to be party-ready. Here are a few of her tried-and-true secrets to linen care. Give your linens one complete and thorough wash before storing them at the end of the season as well. Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Produced: Page Mullins To keep linens vibrant and crisp, she recommends a cold wash cycle, particularly for colorful linens. Cold water minimizes the risk of color bleeding and fading, she says....

Two experts weigh in. Nothing stops me in my tracks quite like unexpected chandelier cobwebs. They can instantly transform a room’s elegant ambiance into something…less polished (no pun intended). Credit: Mary Katherine Morris I dont know about you, but it seems like my light fixtures go from dazzling todustyovernight. Lightbulbs gather grime and crystals lose their sparkle, dimming the entire room’s potential. Restoring that familiar shine might take some elbow grease, but the results will be well worth the work....

Learn how to store a Christmas tree properly to ensure it stays in great condition for years to come. After all, you have to work to preserve the tree to have it for years to come. But, how do you clean an artificial tree? Credit:Getty Images Especially if it’s lit? “Give the branches a gentle dusting with a soft brush or microfiber cloth. A fan can also be used, but a blow dryer will blow air in a concentrated area....

A method for those who plan aheadand those who don’t. How Long Can Frozen Shrimp Last In The Freezer? Frozen shrimp can last up to 18 monthsin the freezer. Credit:Emily Laurae Did we mention that it cooks in a matter of minutes? You’ve got to defrost that frozen shrimp before you could cook and eat it. Here are thebest ways to thawshrimp, whether you need it tomorrow or right now....

Keep your down comforters fresh without risking mildew using these quick tips. Down comforterscan feel like the luxury car of the bedding community: highly prized, but difficult to maintain. If you’re feeling cautious about cleaning your covers, we have you…well, “covered.” Credit: Laurey W. Glenn Why Down Is A Good Choice Let’s talk about why down comforters are so magical. In bedding, it provides a lot of the same function: It’s paradoxically lightweightandincredibly warm....

They come in manyvarietiesand can be enjoyed in everything fromjams and jelliesto our favoritefruit salad. Only wash grapes right before you are planning to eat them. Why Should You Wash Grapes? Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox “Cleaning grapes removes pesticides or any contaminants that could occur while being grown or transported. All fruit should be washed before eating,” says Demarest. Can You Freeze Grapes Without Washing Them First? Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox...

Keep linen pieces fresh and clean with these expert tips. Flax is grown for various purposes, but only the highest quality variants are cultivated for fiber. And dont forget those magnificent wrinkles! Credit:Getty Images If a garment is highly constructed and lined (like suit jackets, pants, etc. ), it might be best to consider environmentally friendly dry-cleaning, suggests Apter. For casual, less tailored garments, washing is appropriate, according to the care instructions....

Keep your bed fresh and clean with these expert tips. According to Stein, cotton sheets can handle higher temperatures, which helps kill germs and dust mites. Microfiber sheets require cooler water to prevent damage and pilling, she says. Credit:Getty Images And microfiber needs to be washed separately to avoid fuzzies sticking or picking up hair. Or bring them to the dry cleaners if youre able to. However, for cotton sheets, hot water can be used occasionally for a deep clean, says Stein....