Hyphen Usage -- When do you do it?

[HNicole]

I struggle with hyphens. I do well with dashes, but I never know when to hyphenate words.

example: is it "full-course meal" or full course meal?

I usually go to google and see what it suggests, but there must be a better way. And I can't find anything in Strunk and White's Elements of Style book.

Some help?