Environment rating

The environment is a gameplay element featured in all installments of the Animal Crossing series. In earlier AC games, the Wishing Well or Bell Shrine would tell the player how their town is doing, along with pointing out an acre in particular that needs work. In later installments, the town's environmental status could be checked in the Town Hall by talking to either Phyllis or Pelly.

Vegetation/Plants
Various plants (flowers and trees in this case) impact the player's town's environment. Sometimes, villagers will also comment about the town's environment when talking to the player.

Trees
Trees impact the towns environment and, unlike other plants, cannot be as easily removed. To plant a tree, one must first dig a hole using a shovel. The tree will be fully grown after 4 days and doesn't require care. Some trees can only grow in certain parts of a town. Cedar trees can only be grown in the northern half of town, oak trees ( and trees that bear fruit) can be grown in most grass or dirt areas, but not sand or cobble, and not on ramps. Coconut palms can only grow along the beach.

Flowers
To have your player's town's environmental status burst out the roof, you may want to plant various types of flowers in your town. Putting at least one flower in each acre improves the town's environment immensely. If Pelly or Phyllis tells you that the town needs 'more green', the problem may be due to a lack of flowers in the town area. Any type of flower can be grown anywhere, but remember to keep the town evenly distributed for a better environmental status. You will have to water these flowers as soon as you see them wilting. Lucky for you, you don't have to water them if they are healthy or if it's raining.


 * TIP: Stick flowers of the same species together (keep tulips with tulips, roses with roses, etc.). By doing so, you may recieve a hybrid flower such as a black rose or an orange pansy!

Weeds
Three weeds show up per day. There is no positive to having weeds whether you want a perfect town or not. If you're going for a perfect town, you're going to have to make sure you don't have a single one of them lying around. Make sure you pick about three weeds daily, or you'll have a problem. Clovers count as weeds and must also be removed.

Junk
Anything that's not a fruit or flower should NOT be on the ground. Furniture, accessories, and garbage from the sea all fall into this category. Seashells are fine on the beach and do not count as junk.

Messages
When talking with Pelly and/or Phyllis about the town's environmental status, the designated pelican will relay "messages" that other villagers have given her. Her response will inform you if the town is prospering or not in Animal Crossing: Wild World or in Animal Crossing: City Folk. Here are the responses that either Phyllis or Pelly will tell you:


 * Horrible - "This place is the pits! Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong! There's not a single thing I like in this town!"


 * Bad - I'm not sure what good it will do to write this, but... Could you try and be a bit more thoughtful about your town? Because at this rate..."


 * Neutral - "Hmm... it's not a passing grade, but it's not a failing grade either. It's like more than milk, but not quite a milk shake."


 * Good - "This town is fantastic! But even so, it still seems to be missing something"


 * Perfect - "Fantastic! [Town Name] is in great shape right now! Yep, it's pretty sweeeeet!"

After Pelly/Phyllis relays the message, they will give you a hint that can help you into making your town even healthier. For example, at the "getting there" phase, Pelly may tell you that some areas don't have enough green, which is a tip to plant more flowers and trees in areas lacking them. Phyllis's messages tend to be a little more straight-forward about what you need to do, since that is more her style. By following each pelican's advice, pulling out weeds, planting more vegetation and caring for your town, the environment status will be sure to reach perfect in time.