How to do flower garden?

[sagnak3]

I bought a shovel, rake, and flower seeds to start growing a flower garden. My shovel doesn't work anywhere. I tried on grass around the house area. Nothing. I also noticed the NPCs are using hoes in their gardens but I haven't been able to find a garden hoe. I read flower gardens give social points so really would like to get started. I'm a poor farmer working hard to build a dynasty.

[Merck]

1. The first step is to shovel the ground. You have to make sure you are on grassy ground, or the shovel will not work. You should see a prompt to shovel the ground.
   
2. Next you need to rake the ground. Once the ground is shoveled, you rake the soil to prepare the bed for the flowers.
   
3. Finally plant the flower seeds in the prepared beds.
   
4. Every so often you will have to water the flower beds. When you look at the flowers you should see a note about how much moisture is in the patch.

• John's store to the north of the farm should have tools & flower seeds available for purchase.
• You can also randomly find the tools in various treasure chests located around the world.

NOTE: There is no hoe for the player to purchase or use (at this time). Only the NPC's have those.

[sagnak3]

I have tried to shovel on grass around the house area. It doesn't work. I will try other areas, but others have said to grow flowers inside fenced area around the house. So that's what I have tried.

[Sillysally]

Best placing flower on inside of fence area in front of chicken coupe after installing bee hives, inside yard near fence area for neighbors can critique them. and infront of the apple orchard by bee hives for starter. two other locations also for hives and where ever it will let you for beauty and social points. Just try to shovel and rake ground for information from the game also.

[Merck]

The only thing I can think you may be doing wrong is that you have to look down with the shovel in your hand to get the prompt, which will then allow you to use the tools. If you don't look almost directly down with the tool in your hand, you will not receive any prompts.
Also, I haven't really found anyplace on the map that won't let me plant flowers. It doesn't matter if the grass is mowed or left long. I also regularly plant flowers inside the chicken pen.

Here are some screenshots of the various tools & prompts:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1994436950
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1994436512
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1994437338
Hopefully this helps you with this problem.

[sagnak3]

Sorry, but it really doesn't help. I managed to get the shovel to work 1 time but when I tried to rake the dirt it said I needed to dig on grass. I think this process needs some improving.

[Merck]

Very unusual, since I have never seen any issues in the past with the planting. All I have ever done is shoveled the dirt in the area I want to plant flowers (must be a grassy spot first). Then rake over those same areas that I just dug up. After that I plant whatever flower seeds I desire in those locations.

Maybe if you posted some screenshots, it may help decipher the issue. Or another option is to upload the save files, which I could test out myself.

Finally, you could start a new game - making an immediate new save slot - to test out & see if the problem is part of the saves or not. Only problem with this is that the tools would take a bit to get. But then you could always return to your original save if no difference.

[sagnak3]

not wanting to start over again. I kept trying and did manage to plant one square. Other attempts either fail from start or doesn't let me use rake. It's frustrating.

[Merck]

Odd indeed.
I am wondering how is your characters condition? Was it very low?? Maybe that is having some effect on what you are trying to do?

Also, does the tools display in your hands (& view) when using them? Sometimes the game doesn't show the tools. So what I often do is cycle another tool then back to what I want to use. Then it displays properly.