Garden
Gardens are one of the main uses of a yard in The Sims series. They usually contain harvestable plants or decorative plants, like trees, flowers or bushes, which are sometimes framed by fences. Other types of decoration that can be used are ponds, rocks and certain types of decoration from the buy mode, like the scarecrow[TS:U].
Decorative plants
Decorative plants are bought from build mode.
In The Sims and The Sims 2, at least some of them have to be taken care of. Flowers need to be watered, otherwise they will die. In The Sims 2, bushes occasionally need to be trimmed and weeds may be need to be pulled. If Sims don't want to take care of those plants, a Servo, Butler or Gardener can be hired to take care of them. Dead flowers, untrimmed bushes, and weeds lower the lot's Environment score.
Plants do not need any care in The Sims 3.
Harvestable plants
Harvestable plants were first introduced in The Sims: Unleashed and returned in The Sims 2: Seasons, The Sims 3 and then in The Sims 4. When harvested, they will give produce. They can be trees[TS2:S][TS3][TS4] or bushes.
They require more care than decorative plants, which however consists of the same actions (pulling weeds and watering). The produce can be sold in Old Town[TS:U], in the Supermarket[TS3], on the spot[TS2:S] or be consumed.
There are several obstacles to this type of gardening: Gophers and rabbits[TS:U], cold weather[TS2:S], and zombies[TS3:SN]. Gophers and rabbits can be chased by a cat and cold weather can be avoided by growing plants in a greenhouse.
There are several utensils used for gardening:
In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, the ability to garden can be improved.
Gallery
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A gardener and some decorative plants in The Sims.
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Jocasta Bachelor gardening in The Sims 3.
See also