Gardeners should keep in mind that most conifer species, with the exception of yew, cannot survive a severe pruning. Although the green foliage can be trimmed, the brown areas of old growth should be left alone because these places will not regenerate if cut. Some conifers have an area in the center where no foliage grows, but this is normal and not indicative of any problems. In trees where this is the case, gardeners should avoid pruning into this area because doing so will result in a lopsided tree. The plants will not grow back to cover up the hole. Therefore, tree trimmers should check the foliage areas before making decisions about which branches to lop off Although wanting to remove the lower branches of a tree is understandable, gardeners who do so may end up with an unsightly specimen when the tree gets taller. Therefore, tree trimmers should exercise restraint and only remove the bottom branches when it becomes absolutely necessary. Evergreens should not be topped, or cut off at a certain height, because this will produce trees that are anything but attractive. Trees that are topped are also at a greater risk for disease and other ailments. Conifers should not be pruned later in the summer or in the fall. Late season pruning can result in new, lush growth that will not have a chance to mature before the cold, damaging winter weather.

Summary: Be aware that most conifer species will not survive a severe pruning. Refrain from pruning into the empty, central area of the tree. Only remove the bottom branches of trees when absolutely necessary. Avoid topping evergreen trees. Do not prune conifer trees too late in the year.

Having a bit of stretch to your infinity scarf can be nice if you decide to wrap it around your neck a few times, so you may want to go with a stretch jersey fabric. This will make it easier to get the scarf on and off. However, you can also go with a non-stretchy fabric if you choose, such as a cotton broadcloth or satin. Select a fabric that will allow you to create the type and color scarf that you want to wear. You can wrap the fabric around your neck to determine how long you want it to be, and doing this will also help you to decide how thick you would like you scarf. Mark the fabric where you want to cut it for the length, and then lay the fabric out flat and cut a straight line across the fabric to shorten the piece. If the fabric feels too bulky around your neck, then try cutting a few inches off of the long edge to thin it out. Then, try it on again. For a lightweight scarf, cut the fabric so that it is 24 inches (61cm) wide and about 54 inches (140cm) long. If you are using a stretchy fabric, then use the zigzag stitch setting on your sewing machine. This will help to provide some give to the stitched areas. If your fabric is not stretchy, then use the straight stitch setting on your sewing machine. Every sewing machine is a little different. Consult your sewing machine's manual for instructions on how to apply different settings to your machine. Lay your fabric out flat on your work surface so that the printed side is facing up towards you. Then, fold one of the long edges over so that it matches up with the other long edge. After you fold your fabric in half, the print sides should be matching up and no longer visible. You may pin the edges together to keep the fabric's edges even while you sew. Place a pin about every 4 inches (10cm) to hold the fabric edges in place. This is especially helpful if you are working with a slippery fabric. Place your fabric under the presser foot so that the end of the fabric is lined up under the needle. Then, lower the presser foot and start stitching at a slow speed by applying gentle pressure to your pedal. Sew about 0.5 inches (1.3cm) from the raw (cut) edges of the folded fabric. After you get a few stitches into the fabric, backstitch a few stitches. To backstitch, press the lever on the side of your machine. This will reverse the direction of your stitches. When the needle gets to the end of your fabric again, release the lever. Continue to sew all the way down the length of the fabric along the pinned areas. Sew until you reach the end of the fabric, but do not sew over the edge. Make sure not to sew over the pins and remove the pins as you go. To secure the end stitches, backstitch a few more stitches at the end. Then, release the lever and sew to the end normally. Stop the machine when you are finished sewing, and raise the presser foot to release the fabric. Cut the thread near the last stitch to free the fabric from the machine. Next, reach through the tube of fabric you have created and grasp the end of the tube. Pull this end through the tube until you have lined it up with the other end. Do not pull the fabric through the tube completely! Line up the edges of the tube ends so that the ends are even and the seams are aligned. Then, pin the ends of the tube together to secure them. Take the tube to the sewing machine and sew a straight stitch (even if the fabric is stretchy) along the edges of the tube. Do not sew all the way around the tube! Leave about 3 inches (7.6cm) unsecured. You will need this opening to turn the fabric right-side out. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of the tube stitches just as you did with the long seam. Raise the presser foot when you are finished sewing and cut the thread near the last stitch to free the fabric from the machine. Next, reach into the tube and begin pulling the fabric through the opening. This will reveal the printed side of your fabric and hide the non-printed side of your fabric. Keep pulling until the tube is completely inverted. To finish up your infinity scarf, sew up the open area using a needle and thread. Thread a needle with about 30 inches (76cm) of a color of thread that matches your fabric. Match up the ends of the thread so that they are even, and tie a knot to secure the ends of the thread. Insert the needle from the inside of your fabric so that the knot will be anchored inside of the scarf. Then, begin sewing the hole closed. Tuck the fabric edges under as you sew across the hole to ensure that the cut edges are hidden. Make sure to sew the two sides together evenly so that the hole will have a neat closure. Secure the thread with a knot when you are finished and cut the excess thread.

Summary: Get 1.5 yards (1.4m) of fabric. Cut the fabric to the desired length and width. Set your sewing machine. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise with the printed sides facing each other. Sew a few inches in and then backstitch a few stitches. Sew along the pinned edges. Backstitch again when you are near the end of the fabric. Pull one of the ends through the tube of fabric until the ends match up. Pin the ends together. Sew around the tube leaving a 3 inches (7.6cm) gap. Invert the fabric. Stitch the opening closed by hand.

If the protective coating of the hardwood floor is scratched, use a soft rag (such as a microfiber cloth) and a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner to remove any contaminants from the scratched area. Any and all small dust particles must be removed from the scratched area so they don't get preserved in the floor when you add sealant. After cleaning the scratched area of the floor, dampen another rag with water, and wipe down the scratched area to remove the cleanser. Let the scratched area dry before moving on. When the scratched area is completely dry, use a small tipped brush to apply a thin layer of protective finish to the scratched area of the floor. This protective finish could be a sealant, shellac, or some other kind of polyurethane varnish. Ideally, you would use the same kind of finish that is already on the hardwood floor. Consult an employee at your local hardware store for advice on what kind of finish you should use on the floor. If you are an inexperienced wood worker, or if your hardwood floor has a specialty finish (such as a high gloss polyurethane finish), consider hiring a professional to repair and finish the floor. Since hiring a professional will cost more money, it might be most cost-effective to let scratches accumulate, rather than hiring a company to fix one small scratch.
Summary: Clean the scratched area. Rinse off the cleaner. Apply a top coating.