Like all apples, crabapples have seeds with trace amounts of amygdalin, a substance that breaks down into cyanide. However, large numbers of seeds must be chewed and swallowed to have a serious impact. Since crabapples are generally sour and unpalatable to humans, there is little chance that many seeds will be digested. Regular pruning and frequent evaluation for disease and pest problems are essential for growing a long-lived tree. These are relatively high-maintenance trees....

When propagating lucky bamboo, remember that the new plant won’t have the same distinctive stalks and growth habit of the parent. It’ll still be a pretty and resilient houseplant, with narrow green leaves and straight stems, but it won’t look like a professionally shaped lucky bamboo. The simplest way to propagate lucky bamboo is by taking cuttings, which can be trimmed off the parent plant with clean scissors or gardening shears....

Seed Germination Test Before you plant the bean seeds the following year, test them to make sure that they’ll grow.

Bring Outdoor Plants Indoors Some garden plants are perfectly happy to be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. They can handle the drier winter conditions and most even enjoy the cooler temperatures. You might have to test out the best spot for sun exposure because winter sunlight isn’t very intense. But bringing in coleus or fuchsia is a nice reminder of the garden that was and the one that will be....

If you have used a shop vacuum or cotton rags to wipe surfaces before painting, you might know that these tools take off much of the dust, but not all of it. The first time you use a tack cloth, you will be amazed at how thoroughly it removes the smallest dust particles from surfaces in preparation for painting, staining, or finishing. What Is a Tack Cloth? A tack cloth is a large sheet of loosely woven cheesecloth impregnated with beeswax....

Where does this negative energy come from? Sometimes the negative qi is already in the home from previous inhabitants. Other times maybe it’s just a more challenging year for your astrology. Negative qi can also be invited in with negative attitudes. Unfortunately, we can send negative energy to others. When you do this (purposely or inadvertently), the same energy is mirrored in your space and life. But don’t panic as fear and despair can create more negative energy....

The Main Clean-Out Clearing a main sewer line stoppage is best approached from a fitting known as the main clean-out or main house trap. Every house should have one, although unfortunately, some houses don’t. It is the best place for you or a plumber to use a drain snake or motorized auger to dislodge the clog in the main drain line and return your house’s drain system to proper function. Finding the main clean-out isn’t always easy, though....

To test the temperature of your refrigerator, place a thermometer in a glass of water, and check it the next day (or after the fridge has been closed for at least eight hours). To test the temperature of your freezer, place a thermometer between two frozen foods; then, check it after eight hours. Note: It can take up to 24 hours for a temperature change to take effect. Do you want to save even more?...

Though the results are striking, upholstering a door isn’t hard. If you use remnants, vintage drapery panels, or other bargain fabrics, it’s not costly either. Here’s how to upholster a door: Preparing the Door and Fabric Padding the Door Panels Padding the Door Attaching Fabric to the Door Applying Nailhead Trim Rehanging the Door

No matter what you fancy in terms of home decor and design, there are some universal “don’ts” that will prevent your space from being a standout—in a good way, at least. And some of the nation’s top interior designers say they keep seeing them over and over again. Take a look at this list and see if you are making mistakes that turn your design into a disaster. Disproportional Accents Audrey Kuether, a Kansas City designer who also created the popular Oh So Lovely blog, says using the wrong size rug is a sure way to throw your room off balance....

Wine is a fragile beverage. Stored in an environment with fluctuating temperatures or exposed to lots of light and movement, a wine’s taste can drastically change. While a countertop or cabinet may seem like a safe place to display your bottles, it’s not fit for long-term storage. To get the most out of your collection (whether you’re a casual wine drinker or self-taught sommelier), a wine fridge, like Ivation’s 18-Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cooler, is essential....

While an optimal tree stand makes setting up your evergreen a snap, a sub-par stand can quickly turn the yearly Christmas tree decorating ritual into a literal nightmare before Christmas. I reviewed the Jack-Post Steel Christmas Tree Stand to see if it offered a streamlined, stress-free setup process. Setup Process: Quick but kind of challenging for one person This stand made setting up my tree really simple. I was able to do it all by myself in minutes by holding the tree in position with one arm and tightening each of the four screw bolts individually against the trunk with the other....