Is there really a "dead spot" where you can't plant anything at all and they'll just die? I've been trying to plant a bush at this specific place but it always dies. I thought it was because the bushes are connected and so I can't plant anymore. So I dug up one to cut up the line and planted the bush again at the place where I want it. Sadly, it still died, again.
Some dead spots can move, but to move them you generally need to dig up the whole row of bushes and try again with them. So it's not ideal as it usually just sticks the dead spot somewhere else in the line. ~ This does depend on how the surrounding non-connected bushes are though. Because of the rough rule of 15 bushes per 7x7 section.
On top of this, if you plant a ton of bushes together knowing some will die you can start the next day with a new character so see which die and if it's an absolutely horrible layout delete a previously existing character and try again. ~ If you don't delete a human character though they don't change. And if you do delete a character and the layout is worse you can't go back to the previous layout. - It's a really lengthy process that only gives you up to 3 shots (if you start the day with 2 chars to delete and a space for the new one) but it can be helpful when you know you have to have some deadspots, but can't decide where to have them yourself.
I'm planning on customizing some alpine furniture with patterns - if I change the pattern slot later on, will that affect the pattern on the furniture too? Several sources online say that it won't, but Cyrus himself is telling me that it'll change if I put a different design on the slot. Does it depend on the furniture?
If you change the patterns it does change on the furniture. I had the whole polka series redone and used to change it pretty often.
The only places I've found that don't change are the signboard PWPs, town flag and the museum second floor signboards.
I don't know if there are maybe certain furnitures that can keep it, but I assume not seeing as the museum signboard furniture piece does change with the pattern. ~ also I thought this was the point ni the yellow/red leaf split. Red if clothes are used as they won't change, yellow with patterns which will change and for this reason can't be put on the floor and often cause wifi issues if you try to travel with them in your pockets. ~ though a couple if times I've managed to get through only to crash in a random doorway several minutes later.
Does the beautiful town ordinance prevent flowers from wilting at all?
Also, is the time in a dream town based on actual time or updating time?
Flowers don't wilt at all with a beautiful ordinance.
Dream towns take the time/date from the time they are updated.