George asks…
How should I separate my small garden from my grass?
No experience with gardening!! I just bought a house with a small (4′ x 3′) garden in the backyard. Right now the garden is empty but I hope to get some flowers & bushes in soon. Do I need to separate the garden from the surrounding grass with some sort of barrier so they don’t grow into each other? Or will the roots of the plants keep each other from overgrowing? Secondly, I am looking for a hardy ground-covering type plant that grows with minimal care and perhaps has some nice flowers. Any suggestions?
GardenersCardiff answers:
If it was me I’d want to put in a barrier to prevent the grass from constantly encroaching on the garden. The ditch and landscape timbers can work, but more effective barriers would be:
1) tear off the sod around the garden spot (about a foot width) and a little deeper than just the sod. Then line with plastic (heavy duty plastic garbage bags work just fine, make sure to do a good job of overlapping the plastic. Then fill with rock…I find that works really well for many years
2) find a good edging… Find something that will go down into the ground about 8inches. Don’t get the 4″ stuff…it’s just not enough. Find any kind of edging or material that will let you put a wall down into the ground about 8″ and that should prevent things from going into your garden.
As another poster said, 4′ x 3′ is a very small garden…you will not be able to do much with it. Most plants get big fast! 
Have fun!
Jenny asks…
How do I grow lettuce in my garden? Are there lettuce seeds?
I know absolutely nothing about gardening, but since the weather’s so nice, I would like to take this opportunity to grow some things.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Hi there,
Well I hope it was lettuce seeds that I planted yesterday! Yes you can get all types of lettuce seeds from garden centres, supermarkets, on line etc. Rake the ground so that the soil is very fine, water it well and then sprinkle the seed on top. Cover with a little more soil and in no time at all, you will have homegrown lettuce. Personally I do them in tubs, pots and trays and prefer to use compost instead of soil. Keep them well watered other wise they will run to seed quite quickly.
Hope this helps, good luck and happy gardening
Donald asks…
How do you do Gardening in the Sims 3?
Hey, I have the Sims 3 and I really wanted to do some gardening in the Sims 3, but I don’t know how. I don’t want to go to the science lab all the time as I would like to do it in my own garden, but I don’t know how to plant seeds or garden at all. Do I need to buy seeds or something, then plant it in the garden? Please help me, I’m really stuck.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Gardening is a very useful skill to master in Sims 3. Not only will you make quality produce leading to quality meals leading to higher mood buffs but you can also sell your produce and turn into a pro-gardener, making heaps of money with high-quality produce.
You cannot buy seeds, you can only find them across the town, sometimes in community lots and sometimes in the wilderness. They are very small and inconspicuous, but the Collector Helper (a lifetime reward) can screen them on your map and collecting them becomes a cakewalk. You should only find seeds of special quality like this, as they cannot be purchased anywhere. These include the Death Flower, the Life Fruit, Flame Fruit and the Money Tree. As for normal produce like: Lime, Apples, Lettuce, Tomatoes and so on, you don’t necessarily need pure seeds. You can just use the harvestables themselves, and plant them.
Harvestables are graded in several levels and your gardening skills need to be on par with those levels to plant certain veggies or fruits. If your sim has no skill at gardening whatsoever they can plant common harvestables: Apple Tree, Grapes, Lettuce and Tommato. To do this, buy any of these from the Groccery store and head home. You can only plant on your own lot. Open the inventory and click on the veggies and select plant. Choose your spot on the terrain and plant away.
To improve your Gardening Skill, buy a book about gardening, tune in to the Gardening TV channel or just garden. At level 5 of this skill you can start planting uncommon harvestables (i’ll let you find out which they are as you play) and at level 7 you start planting the special harvies. Thru a series of 3 opportunities, the chefs at the diner and bistro will give you the possibility to plant eggs, steaks, cheese and patties. Imagine that. But the phone for those opportunities will ring only when you’ve reached level 7 Gardening.
Additional info:
Fertilizing is an option you’ll have with a plant once you’ve reached level 3 gardening. This expedites the plants growth depending on what you use as a fertilizer. Life Fruits, Angelfish, Vampire Fish, Sharks, Lobsters and Garlic are the best as these have the greatest effect over the longest time. Other produce and fish can also be used for less effective results.
Having the Super-Green Thumb lifetime reward is a great asset for gardening. The plant you plant, will be one level better than the seed used to plant it. This means that you can start with a Nice Quality (2) harvy, plant it, make the plant of Very Nice Quality (3), and with good care it’s produce will be Great Quality (4). Then plant that produce and have an Excellent Quality (5) plant that will yield Outstanding Quality (6) harvies. Takes time, but the better the quality, the better the meal made with them tastes and the higher their price for sale.
That about rounds up the basics in gardening.
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Mandy asks…
What are good solar lights for indoors?
I brought five garden solar lights from the dollar store, but they are not bright enough to bring indoors. I am looking for something that is affordable and can brighten up the room without the need of electricity in the apartment– not a home. I am not interested to buy expensive solar panels that you can put onto the roof. I live in an apartment! It has to be portable! It would be helpful if you give me a link and which kind of brand works the best.
I live in a sunny climate. I can have them to sit by the windows. I just like the idea of saving electricity at night. That’s all..
GardenersCardiff answers:
If you’ve been looking at solar lights, the question of what are the brightest solar lights has probably crossed your mind. While solar lights have a lot going for them, they have a reputation for not being the brightest bulbs on the block. If you like the benefits of solar lighting and are determined to find some that will shine brightly in your yard, good for you. You’ve come to the right place.
Not all solar lights are made equal. It used to be that solar lights were unreliable, dim and limited in design. Some of the cheaper choices available today are still perpetuating these problems on the unsuspecting homeowner that is trying to be environmentally conscious by installing solar lighting. Luckily, there have been technological breakthroughs for solar lighting that are addressing these issues.
Even with these initial drawbacks, solar lighting has been growing in popularity. They are affordable for most budgets, easy to install and don’t add to your electric bill. There are now solar lights that fit almost every need for the homeowner, including accent lights, path lights and task lights.
George asks…
What type of fun toys can I make at home for my 8 month old?
She is getting bored of all her toys and to give me something to do (on maternity leave so I am at home all day) I thought it would be fun to make some fun toys for her to play with.
Any ideas on what I can make with household objects?
I have made a rattle with an old water bottle and lentils which she likes. I blow bubbles with dishwashing liquid and we walk around the garden touching the flowers and trees.
What else can I do?
Thanks
GardenersCardiff answers:
Children love when you talk to them they learn communication and understanding. Puppets out of socks or any material.
Sometimes it is hard for an adult to talk funny like a baby or make silly sounds but it works for children. I always felt if what I do puts a smile on my daughters face then that’s the way to go (she is know 24) sometimes the dumber you get the better. You can take pieces of wood all kinds of shapes (make sure they are sanded and not treated with any kind of chemicals) and sizes and stack & build. Balls are a never ending fun. Kids at this age love to let things drop of their high chair it is to see what is going to happen (not to piss you off because you have to go pick it up) everytime it lands on the floor it creates a different motion and this entertains, and entreegs them to do it again A LEARNING PROCESS
At this age I found was the most fun (still never easy & always tireing to raise children) and responsive and rewording.
If you give them love and attention teach them right from wrong and provide for them thats all a parent needs to do, just do the best you can do and they will love you back.
You sound like you are a good parent and are interested in doing good. I’m a mother and I have to tell you this believe it and do not forget this!!!!!!! Children grow upto fast. At first you might not think so cause you wish they can get themselves into the car seat themselves or you wish they did’nt need help brushing teeth or getting dressed.But the day will come when you wish that you had that time again NO MATTER WHAT I prommise you this
PLEASE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN Enjoy NOW you can never get it back.
Have fun enjoy I’m so jelous I would love to know more I have thousands of ideas. I would love to know where you are I can send clothes, toys,BOOKS. E-Mail me wordchooser@yahoo.com
or indelable13@aol.com I would love to help
I’M NOT A WEIRDO OR THOSE PETAFILE PEOPLE
Just someone who enjoys people that love kids and animals
Cathy Sorry spell check is off and I stink at spelling so I’m sending anyway GOOD LUCK
William asks…
What do I need to know about gardening?
I’ve never tried to grow my own fruits or veggies, but I want to try. I bought carrot seeds, tomato seeds, strawberries that already have the root coming out, and lettuce seeds. I bought a container that has 32 small pots in it, and I have some other small pots. I planted a few seeds in each container with organic soil, that said it was specifically made for vegetables and fruits. I live in Pennsylvania, so the plants will have to stay inside until the weather gets warmer. I have a few questions:
Do I add fertilizer to any plant, or just certain plants? If so, will I need to add it to the vegetables or fruits?
How do I add fertilizer? Do I just pour it ontop of the soil, or do I dig up some of the soil and put the fertilizer inside?
Do I ever need to change the soil?
How big of a container will I need once the leaves start to sprout?
Any other advice will be great.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Fertilizer all plants, including the seedlings. It’s simplest to mix it with the potting soil before planting, but you can still add it.
Outside pour fertilizer on top. Most fertilizers don’t need mixing but with those that do you pour it on top, then mix it in a little with a garden tool. The package will say if you need to mix it and how deep.
I would suggest an organic fertilizer to supply micronutrients and to reduce the need for pesticides. Till the soil each season. Keep it weeded. Water regularly but only when it is dry 1/4″ below the surface (dig a little with your finger); damage from over-watering is a common mistake. An automatic watering system is easier. That’s about all you need to do.
For something extra, the more yard waste you scatter on top the better, even a few inches thick, whether during the planting season or between seasons. But don’t bury waste that has not yet decomposed, or it will compact and harden the soil as it breaks down and shrinks. Let the earthworms & roly-polies decompose and bury it themselves. The waste will help keep weeds down and the decomposed waste will make the soil soft and wonderful for the plants’ health & flavor.
Tomatoes and other vines will be easiest to grow. You stick them in the ground and they spread like wildfire. Get tomato cages or trellises for the tomatoes. For other vines look into cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, etc. Carrots, strawberries and lettuce are a bit more difficult. Carrots are hardest to get started but once you have some good sized seedlings from careful care on moisture & warmth they’re easy from there. Harvest lettuce when it is young; better too early than too late and baby lettuce is tastier anyway. Old lettuce that is about to flower is bitter and inedible. Clean lettuce well before eating.
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