Plant Like a Pro: Every Tree Type in Stardew Valley From Seed to Harvest

Plant Like a Pro: Every Tree Type in Stardew Valley From Seed to Harvest

To plant trees in Stardew Valley, simply select the tree seed or sapling from your inventory and click on a valid tile. Common trees (Oak, Maple, Pine, Mahogany) need one empty space around them to grow fully, while fruit trees require eight empty tiles (a 3x3 area). For fastest results, use Tree Fertilizer on common trees, which enables growth even in winter. Jump to Quick Planting Guide for a no-frills walkthrough, or read on for detailed instructions for all tree types, locations, and optimization strategies.

Tree Planting Fundamentals in Stardew Valley

Whether you’re looking to create a sustainable wood source, tap trees for valuable resources, or grow delicious fruits, understanding how to properly plant and maintain trees is essential for any Stardew Valley farmer. Trees are a renewable resource that can provide wood, sap, fruits, and tappable products like resin and syrup, making them an excellent long-term investment for your farm.

Unlike most crops in Stardew Valley, trees have unique growth requirements and behaviors. They don’t need to be watered, they grow at different rates depending on the season and location, and they have specific spacing requirements that vary between common trees and fruit trees. Mastering these differences will help you create efficient tree farms and beautiful orchards.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything from basic planting techniques to advanced tree farming strategies. You’ll learn how to plant every type of tree in the game, where to plant them for optimal results, and how to troubleshoot common tree growth issues. By the end, you’ll be able to create sustainable wood farms, productive orchards, and visually appealing tree arrangements throughout your Stardew Valley world.

Types of Trees in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley features several distinct types of trees, each with unique properties, growth requirements, and rewards. Understanding these differences is the first step to successful tree farming.

Common Trees (Oak, Maple, Pine, Mahogany)

Common trees are the backbone of your wood production and are essential for crafting and building projects. These trees grow naturally throughout Stardew Valley and can be planted from seeds that you collect through foraging or by chopping down existing trees.

Oak Trees grow from Acorns and can be tapped to produce Oak Resin every 7 days (or 3 days with a Heavy Tapper). Oak Resin is a crucial ingredient for crafting Kegs, which are essential for wine and juice production. Oak trees have a unique seasonal feature – they may turn into Green Rain Trees during Fall if they’re not tapped.

Maple Trees grow from Maple Seeds and produce Maple Syrup when tapped, which takes 9 days (or 4 days with a Heavy Tapper). Maple Syrup is used to craft Bee Houses for honey production, making these trees valuable for artisan goods farmers. In late Fall (last two weeks), shaking a Maple Tree produces Hazelnuts instead of Maple Seeds.

Pine Trees grow from Pine Cones and yield Pine Tar every 5 days when tapped (or 2 days with a Heavy Tapper). Pine Tar is used to craft Rain Totems and is a key ingredient for Quality Sprinklers, making Pine Trees important for improving farm irrigation.

Mahogany Trees grow from Mahogany Seeds, which are primarily found in the Hardwood Stump on your farm or by chopping Mahogany Trees on Ginger Island. These trees drop Hardwood when chopped, making them extremely valuable for advanced building projects. When tapped, they produce Sap daily.

Common trees yield 12-18 pieces of wood when chopped down (more with the Forester profession or after reading Woody’s Secret). Mahogany Trees specifically yield 10 Hardwood when chopped (12-13 with the Forester profession).

Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are specialists that produce one fruit per day during their respective seasons after reaching maturity. Unlike common trees, fruit saplings must be purchased rather than foraged, and they have more stringent spacing requirements.

Apple Trees produce Apples in Fall and cost 4,000g.

Apricot Trees produce Apricots in Spring and cost 2,000g.

Cherry Trees produce Cherries in Spring and cost 3,400g.

Orange Trees produce Oranges in Summer and cost 4,000g.

Peach Trees produce Peaches in Summer and cost 6,000g.

Pomegranate Trees produce Pomegranates in Fall and cost 6,000g.

Banana Trees produce Bananas in Summer (available on Ginger Island).

Mango Trees produce Mangoes in Summer (available on Ginger Island).

Fruit trees take 28 days to fully mature, after which they’ll produce one fruit per day during their respective seasons. Fruits can accumulate on the tree for up to three days before needing to be harvested. When planted in the Greenhouse or on Ginger Island, fruit trees will produce fruit year-round regardless of season.

Special Trees (Green Rain, Mystic)

With update 1.6, Stardew Valley introduced several new tree types with unique properties:

Green Rain Trees grow from Mossy Seeds and come in three varieties. They can be found naturally during Green Rain weather events or can be grown by planting Mossy Seeds. They may drop Mossy Seeds when shaken and yield Wood, Sap, possible Moss, and possible Hardwood (if the player is a Lumberjack) when chopped down.

Mystic Trees grow from Mystic Tree Seeds and are not native to the Valley, growing only if planted by the farmer. When tapped, they produce Mystic Syrup every 7 days (or 3 days with a Heavy Tapper). When chopped, they yield Hardwood.

How to Plant Common Trees

Planting common trees is straightforward but requires understanding a few key mechanics to ensure successful growth. Here’s everything you need to know about planting Oak, Maple, Pine, and Mahogany trees.

Where to Get Tree Seeds

To plant common trees, you’ll first need to acquire their seeds:

Acorns (Oak), Maple Seeds, and Pine Cones can be obtained through:

• Shaking mature trees of the corresponding type
• Chopping down mature trees (you need to reach Foraging Level 1 first)
• Finding them on the ground during their respective seasons
• Purchasing them from the Traveling Cart (occasionally)

Mahogany Seeds are rarer and can be found by:

• Chopping the large stump on your farm (Wilderness or Forest Farm)
• Breaking crates in the Mines
• Foraging on Ginger Island
• Chopping existing Mahogany Trees

Seeds have a natural drop rate – each day, there’s a 5% chance that a mature tree will generate a “loose” seed that will be dropped if you shake the tree. Additionally, mature trees on your farm have a 15% chance each night of spontaneously planting one seed in a random tile up to 3 tiles away from the parent tree.

Step-by-Step Planting Process

Planting common trees is a simple process:

1. Prepare the area: Clear any debris, crops, or objects from the planting location.
2. Select the seed: Open your inventory and select the tree seed (Acorn, Maple Seed, Pine Cone, or Mahogany Seed).
3. Place the seed: Click on a valid tile to plant the seed. Valid tiles include most soil, dirt, or grass areas.
4. Wait for growth: Trees will grow through several stages before reaching maturity.

Unlike crops, trees do not need to be watered to grow. Also, as of update 1.4, planting tree seeds outside your farm no longer requires tilling the soil first, though some players still use this method to place trees in otherwise non-plantable areas.

If you’re planting trees outside your farm, you can place them in most locations as long as they’re not in an NPC’s path. Popular locations include the area south of Marnie’s ranch, the Railroad area, and the space near the Mines entrance. This is particularly useful for creating tree farms without using valuable farm space.

For optimal growth in outdoor locations, ensure that:

• The tile allows tree planting (most dirt/soil areas do)
• There are no fully grown trees immediately adjacent to the sapling (they will prevent growth)
• The tile isn’t in an NPC’s walking path

One player shares: “I plant about 30 acorns next to Marnie’s house, Linus’ tent, Maru’s house, about 40-50 next to the mine, and 150ish at the train station. Put tappers on them and start the wine farm.”

Spacing Requirements for Common Trees

Common trees have less stringent spacing requirements than fruit trees, but they still need some space to grow properly:

• Common trees need at least one empty tile between them to grow to maturity
• If trees are planted directly adjacent to each other, some will grow while others will remain as saplings
• A fully-grown tree will prevent adjacent saplings from growing further

For organized tree farming, many players recommend using a grid pattern with one empty space between each tree. This creates a clean, efficient layout that’s easy to navigate and harvest.

A popular technique is to create a grid using pathing or flooring to mark where trees should be planted, as one player explains: “I like to set them up in 3 by 3, with 1 space in between trees. Makes it look like a nice clean forest.”

Another approach is to “make a grid of pathing and plant trees this way.” This helps visualize the proper spacing and prevents accidental planting in the wrong spots.

For tapper trees specifically, you can plant them in columns with one space between each tree to make harvesting easier. This linear arrangement allows you to walk between rows of trees and collect tapper products efficiently.

How to Plant Fruit Trees

Fruit trees require more specific conditions than common trees but reward you with valuable daily fruit harvests when in season. Here’s how to successfully plant and grow fruit trees.

Where to Purchase Fruit Tree Saplings

Unlike common trees that grow from foraged seeds, fruit trees must be purchased as saplings:

• Pierre’s General Store sells Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Orange, Peach, and Pomegranate saplings year-round
• The Traveling Cart may occasionally sell fruit tree saplings at a discounted price
• Island Trader on Ginger Island sells Banana and Mango saplings (requires unlocking Ginger Island)

The cost of fruit tree saplings ranges from 2,000g to 6,000g, making them a significant investment, especially in the early game. However, the long-term daily fruit production makes them worthwhile for both profit and cooking recipes.

The price breakdown for fruit tree saplings at Pierre’s store:

• Apricot: 2,000g
• Cherry: 3,400g
• Apple: 4,000g
• Orange: 4,000g
• Peach: 6,000g
• Pomegranate: 6,000g

Banana and Mango saplings are available through the Island Trader on Ginger Island and require specific trade items rather than gold.

Step-by-Step Planting Process

Planting fruit trees requires more careful planning than common trees:

1. Choose your location carefully: Fruit trees need a 3x3 clear area to grow (the center tile for planting plus eight surrounding tiles).
2. Purchase the sapling: Visit Pierre’s General Store or other vendors to buy your desired fruit tree sapling.
3. Clear the planting area: Ensure the 3x3 area is completely clear of debris, objects, crops, and paths/flooring.
4. Select the sapling: Open your inventory and select the fruit tree sapling.
5. Plant the sapling: Click on the center tile of your cleared 3x3 area.
6. Wait for maturity: Fruit trees take 28 days to reach maturity, after which they’ll produce fruit in their respective seasons.

Fruit trees are planted directly onto untilled ground – you do not need to use the hoe on the soil first. Like common trees, fruit trees do not need to be watered to grow.

If you attempt to plant a fruit tree in an invalid location (without enough clear space), the game will prevent you from planting and display a message indicating that the position is invalid.

An important note: While a fruit tree is growing, the entire 3x3 area must remain clear. If overnight debris spawns too close to the sapling, or if you place any objects next to it, the game will notify you the next morning that the fruit tree could not grow that night. Once the tree reaches maturity after 28 days, you can place objects or flooring adjacent to it without hindering fruit production.

Spacing Requirements for Fruit Trees

Fruit trees have strict spacing requirements that must be followed for successful growth:

• Each fruit tree requires a full 3x3 area to grow (the center planting tile plus eight surrounding tiles)
• This means fruit trees must be planted with at least 2 clear tiles between them in all directions
• The game enforces this spacing and won’t allow you to plant fruit trees too close together
• The 3x3 area must remain completely empty until the tree is fully grown

As one player explains: “For fruit trees, they need a full 3x3 area to grow (which amounts to having 2 free spaces between each other). This area must remain completely empty until the tree is fully grown. Once it’s fully grown you can place items under it if you want.”

The requirement for two clear spaces between fruit trees means that your orchard layout will be more spread out than a common tree farm. This spacing pattern is mandatory during the growing period, but after the trees mature, you can place objects or pathways between them if desired.

It’s worth noting that update 1.6.9 made a helpful change: “The growth of fruit trees is now unimpeded by grass and seed patches.” This means you don’t need to worry about clearing naturally growing grass around your fruit trees.

Additionally, a valuable feature added in 1.6: “You get the sapling back now if you uproot the fruit tree.” This allows you to relocate fruit trees without losing your investment, which is particularly helpful if you accidentally plant a tree in the wrong location.

Advanced Tree Planting Strategies

Once you understand the basics of planting trees, you can explore more advanced techniques to optimize growth, troubleshoot problems, and create specialized tree farms and orchards.

Troubleshooting Tree Growth Issues

Even with proper planting techniques, you may encounter issues with tree growth. Understanding these common problems and their solutions will help you maintain healthy, productive trees.

Common Problems Preventing Growth

If your trees aren’t growing as expected, several issues could be responsible:

Problem 1: Obstacles in Growth Area

• For common trees: Check for fully grown trees directly adjacent to your saplings. A mature tree will prevent adjacent saplings from growing beyond the sapling stage.
• For fruit trees: Ensure the entire 3x3 area around the sapling remains completely clear of objects, debris, and flooring until maturity.

As one player noted: “They won’t grow to maturity if they’re planted right next to each other.” Another player explained: “A tree won’t grow if there is a fully grown tree next to it.”

Problem 2: Random Growth Rates
Tree growth is not consistent or guaranteed each day. Without fertilizer, seedlings have a 20% chance each night of growing to the next stage, except at stage 4, where seedlings spend twice as long. This randomness means some trees will grow faster than others, even when planted at the same time.

The median growth time from seed to maturity is 24 days for common trees, although individual tree growth times will vary considerably. Statistically, 90% of seeds should reach maturity in 38 days (excluding winter), and 99% in 55 days.

Problem 3: Seasonal Restrictions
Unfertilized trees don’t grow in winter unless you use Tree Fertilizer. If you planted trees late in Fall, their growth will pause during Winter unless fertilized, resuming in Spring.

Problem 4: Hidden Objects
Sometimes, hidden objects like torch placement markers or debris can block growth without being obvious. One player advises: “If you get the message that you can’t plant and are following [the correct spacing], take out your pickax and hit every adjacent tile to where you are trying to plant. Every time someone (myself included!) has this problem, there is a hidden torch or sprinkler that has blocked the tree from being planted.”

Problem 5: Mixed Results in Groups
When planting many trees at once, you might notice uneven growth: “Some have grown quickly, others have got to the shrub level and that’s it, while others aren’t growing at all.” This is normal due to the random growth chance and potential spacing issues.

Using Tree Fertilizer

Tree Fertilizer is a valuable tool for accelerating tree growth and enabling winter growth. Here’s how to use it effectively:

Crafting Tree Fertilizer:

• Recipe unlocks at Foraging Level 7
• Requires 5 Fiber and 5 Stone
• Can also be produced using the Bone Mill

Using Tree Fertilizer:

1. Craft or acquire Tree Fertilizer
2. Wait until the tree seed or sapling is already planted
3. Select the Tree Fertilizer from your inventory
4. Apply it directly to the planted seed or sapling
5. The fertilized tree will have a reddish hue until fully grown

Benefits of Tree Fertilizer:

• Most fertilized trees advance one growth stage each night until stage 4, then reach final stage after two nights
• Fertilized trees grow during Winter (a major advantage)
• Mahogany Trees have a 60% chance to advance stages each night when fertilized
• Mystic Trees have a 30% chance to advance stages each night when fertilized

Tree Fertilizer works only on common trees (Oak, Maple, Pine, Mahogany, etc.) and doesn’t affect Fruit Trees or Tea Bushes. This limitation means you’ll need to be more patient with fruit tree growth, which always takes 28 days regardless of fertilizer use.

Seasonal Considerations

Trees in Stardew Valley have several seasonal behaviors that affect their growth, appearance, and productivity:

Winter Growth Limitation:
Without Tree Fertilizer, trees will not grow during Winter. As one player noted: “Nothing grows in winter but I think you can make tree fertilizer that might make the trees grow in winter.” This is correct – fertilized trees will continue to grow through Winter, making Tree Fertilizer particularly valuable if you plant late in Fall.

Seasonal Appearance Changes:
Common trees may change appearance with the seasons:

• Oak and Maple trees now have a chance to turn into Green Rain Trees and lose their leaves in the Fall (as of update 1.6)
• Oak trees outside Pelican Town or the Greenhouse may turn into Green Rain Trees in Fall and will not return to normal until Spring (unless tapped)

Desert Trees Exception:
“Trees planted in the Desert will now grow during Winter without Tree Fertilizer” (as of update 1.6). This makes the Desert a valuable location for winter tree farming without the need for fertilizer.

Greenhouse and Ginger Island:
Trees planted in the Greenhouse or on Ginger Island aren’t affected by seasons and will grow year-round. Fruit trees in these locations will produce fruit every day regardless of the calendar season.

Understanding these seasonal factors allows you to plan your tree planting schedule effectively. For maximum efficiency:

• Plant common trees in Spring or early Summer to ensure they reach maturity before Winter
• Use Tree Fertilizer on late Fall plantings to avoid growth stagnation during Winter
• Consider planting in the Desert, Greenhouse, or Ginger Island for year-round growth
• Plant fruit trees 28 days before their fruit season begins to start harvesting immediately

Optimal Tree Layouts

Strategic tree placement can maximize production, accessibility, and aesthetics. Here are some proven layouts for different tree farming goals.

Tree Farm Designs

For efficient wood and tapper product production, consider these tree farm layouts:

Grid Pattern with Paths:
The most popular and efficient layout for common trees is a grid pattern with one space between each tree, often marked with paths or flooring:

“I like to set them up in 3 by 3, with 1 space in between trees. Makes it look like a nice clean forest.”

This pattern creates clear access paths between trees, making it easy to harvest wood, collect tapper products, and navigate through your tree farm.

Column Layout for Tappers:
For dedicated tapper operations, a column layout can be particularly efficient:

“I want to plant them in columns so I won’t have a hard time harvesting.”

With this approach, trees are planted in straight lines with one empty space between columns, allowing you to walk down the rows and collect tapper products efficiently.

The 3×3 Grid Method:
A structured approach is to create a perfect grid:

“I make a grid of pathing and plant trees this way.”

1. Place path tiles in a grid pattern, leaving open soil spaces for trees
2. Plant tree seeds in the open spaces
3. Ensure each tree has at least one empty space in all directions
4. Once trees are established, you can remove the path tiles if desired

Self-Sustaining Mahogany Farm:
One player describes their sustainable Hardwood system: “I have a mahogany tree farm on my farm. I put them in a grid with one empty space between them and put a walkway all around. Unlike fruit trees, you can put stuff right next to them and they will still grow, and the walkway also helps prevent other trees affecting growth and my movement. It’s mostly self-sufficient, so when fully grown I cut them down and get enough seeds to replant.”

This approach creates a renewable source of Hardwood, which is essential for advanced building projects and crafting.

Mixed Tree Orchards

For players seeking to grow multiple tree types in a single area, these approaches work well:

Sectioned Orchard Design:

1. Divide your orchard area into sections based on tree type
2. Use different colored path tiles to visually separate sections
3. Maintain proper spacing within each section (one space for common trees, two spaces for fruit trees)
4. Create walking paths between sections for easy navigation

Season-Based Fruit Tree Clusters:

1. Group fruit trees by their producing season (Spring, Summer, Fall)
2. Plant each seasonal group in a distinct area
3. Use decorative items like fences or special flooring to mark season boundaries
4. This arrangement helps you focus harvesting efforts on active areas each season

Mixed Tapper Tree Arrangement:
Since different tapped trees produce resources on different schedules, a mixed planting can provide more regular harvests:

1. Alternate Oak, Maple, Pine, and Mahogany trees in your grid
2. Place tappers on all trees
3. This creates a staggered harvesting schedule, with some products ready every few days

Decorative Tree Arrangements

Trees can be more than just functional – they can enhance your farm’s aesthetics:

Forest Border Design:

1. Plant trees along the edges of your farm
2. Mix different tree types for natural variety
3. Allow some undergrowth (grass) to develop between trees
4. Add paths winding through the trees for a natural forest feel

Scenic Pathway Borders:

1. Plant trees in parallel lines along main pathways
2. Alternate common and fruit trees for visual variety and year-round interest
3. Place decorative items like lanterns between trees
4. Use path tiles to create a defined walkway between the tree lines

Seasonal Color Display:

1. Plant fruit trees in an artistic pattern (circle, star, etc.)
2. Arrange by seasonal color progression
3. Include flowering bushes between trees
4. Create a central seating area for enjoying the seasonal changes

Remember that while decorative arrangements don’t need to prioritize harvesting efficiency, they should still respect the basic spacing requirements to ensure proper growth.

Special Planting Locations

Stardew Valley offers several unique locations for tree planting, each with special considerations and benefits.

Planting Trees Outside Your Farm

Expanding your tree operations beyond your farm can provide additional space without sacrificing valuable farming land:

Valid Off-Farm Planting Locations:

• The area south of Marnie’s ranch
• The area around Linus’ tent
• Near the mine entrance
• The railroad area
• The mountain area near Maru’s house
• The Desert (with special benefits)

As one player shared: “You can plant trees (oak, maple and pine) in the woods or anywhere outside your farm as long as you hoe the square you want to plant them in first. Otherwise it just says ‘Invalid position’ or something like that.”

While hoeing may have been required in earlier versions, update 1.4 changed this: “Planting tree seeds outside the farm no longer requires the spot to be tilled.” However, some players still find that hoeing helps with placement in certain areas.

Off-Farm Planting Tips:

1. Avoid NPC walking paths to prevent tree removal
2. The Desert allows trees to grow in Winter without fertilizer (as of update 1.6)
3. Trees planted outside your farm won’t affect the spawn rate of forageable items
4. You can place chests near off-farm tree groves to store tools and collected items

One player’s comprehensive strategy: “This is what I do at very early spring year 1. Plant about 30 acorns next to Marnie’s house, Linus’ tent, Maru’s house, about 40-50 next to mine, and 150ish to the train station. Put tappers on them and start the wine farm.”

Another advantage of off-farm planting that many players discover: “When you dig up worms you can plant a tree in that spot after. This lets you plant in normally unplantable spots.”

Greenhouse Tree Planting

The Greenhouse offers a unique opportunity for year-round tree growth and fruit production:

Greenhouse Tree Planting Locations:
Unlike the main soil area, trees can be planted around the perimeter of the Greenhouse in specific spots. As one player explains: “The Green dots around the edges are where you can plant 18 fruit trees in the greenhouse. You have to put them EXACTLY where it specifies to work.”

Greenhouse Fruit Tree Benefits:

• Fruit trees in the Greenhouse produce fruit every day regardless of season
• Trees maintain their summer appearance year-round
• A total of 18 fruit trees can fit around the perimeter
• This provides a consistent daily income from fruit

Planting Process for Greenhouse Trees:

1. Clear any decorative items from planting locations if possible
2. Ensure no sprinklers or other objects are in adjacent tiles
3. Plant fruit tree saplings in valid locations around the border
4. Wait 28 days for trees to mature
5. Once mature, you can place sprinklers and other items nearby

Important note about Greenhouse planting: “You can still use tiles to visualize layouts if you need to, but you need to pick up the tiles to plant and grow the fruit trees. Once fully grown, you can place the tiles back.”

The Greenhouse wall doesn’t count as an object that would impede tree growth: “You can grow fruit trees inside your Greenhouse. You can grow fruit trees on the perimeter here like this and you don’t have to worry about having a free Block on all the sides as long as one of the sides is just the building.”

Ginger Island Tree Planting

Ginger Island offers unique tree-growing opportunities:

Ginger Island Benefits:

• Trees grow year-round without fertilizer
• Fruit trees produce fruit every day regardless of season
• Exclusive access to Banana and Mango trees
• Tropical setting offers aesthetic appeal for tree farms

Getting Tropical Fruit Trees:

• Banana and Mango trees are available exclusively through the Island Trader
• These tropical fruit trees follow the same planting and spacing rules as standard fruit trees
• They produce fruit daily when planted on Ginger Island

Ginger Island Planting Strategy:

1. Clear areas of the farm portion of Ginger Island
2. Plant a mix of common and fruit trees, including tropical varieties
3. Consider creating separate zones for tapper trees and fruit trees
4. Place a shipping bin nearby for convenient fruit selling

Ginger Island allows you to expand your tree operations while maintaining your main farm for other purposes, effectively doubling your available planting space.

Utilizing Your Trees

Once your trees are planted and growing successfully, you can benefit from them in multiple ways. Let’s explore how to maximize the returns on your tree investment.

Harvesting Resources from Trees

Trees provide a variety of valuable resources that can be used for crafting, cooking, and selling.

Wood and Hardwood Collection

Wood is a fundamental resource for building, crafting, and fuel:

Wood Harvesting:

• Common trees (Oak, Maple, Pine) yield 12-18 pieces of wood when chopped down
• With the Forester profession, amounts are 25% larger (15-20 pieces)
• If you’ve read Woody’s Secret, there’s a 5% chance to double the wood obtained
• Use upgraded axes to reduce the number of swings needed and energy consumed

Hardwood Collection:

• Mahogany Trees yield 10 Hardwood when chopped
• With the Forester profession, Mahogany Trees give 12-13 Hardwood pieces
• Mystic Trees also provide Hardwood when chopped
• The Lumberjack profession gives a chance to obtain Hardwood from any tree

Sustainable Harvesting Strategies:

1. Rotation System: Divide your tree farm into sections and harvest one section at a time, replanting immediately
2. Seed Preservation: Always keep some seeds in storage for replanting
3. Self-Sustaining Farm: Plant enough trees so that their natural seed production meets your replanting needs
4. Tree Fertilizer Cycle: Use Tree Fertilizer on newly planted sections to accelerate regrowth

For maximum efficiency, consider upgrading your axe as soon as possible. The progression from Copper to Steel to Gold to Iridium axes significantly reduces the energy and time required for tree harvesting.

Sap and Seeds

Beyond wood, trees provide additional valuable resources:

Sap Collection:

• Acquired when chopping down trees (amount varies by tree type)
• Used in crafting many items, including fertilizers and food preservatives
• Mahogany Trees produce Sap daily when tapped

Seed Collection Methods:

• Shaking a mature tree has a 5% chance per day of dropping a seed
• Chopping down mature trees often yields 0-3 seeds
• Mature trees on your farm have a 15% chance each night of naturally planting a seed nearby

Special Seasonal Seed Behaviors:

• During the last two weeks of Fall, shaking a Maple Tree produces a Hazelnut instead of a Maple Seed
• Green Rain Trees may drop Mossy Seeds when shaken
• Trees affected by the Green Rain weather event may transform and drop special seeds

Seed Storage Strategy:

1. Maintain a seed stockpile of at least 50 of each type
2. Store seeds in labeled chests near your planting areas
3. For rapid expansion, collect seeds daily by shaking all mature trees
4. Consider creating a dedicated “seed farm” of mature trees that you never cut down, used solely for seed production

Fruit Harvesting

Fruit trees provide a daily harvest of valuable fruits when in season:

Harvesting Process:

• Simply click on a mature fruit tree to harvest its fruit
• Fruit trees produce one fruit per day during their season
• Fruit can accumulate for up to three days before needing to be harvested
• In the Greenhouse or on Ginger Island, fruit trees produce fruit daily regardless of season

Fruit Quality Progression:

• Fruit trees produce normal quality fruit initially
• After 2 years, they produce silver quality fruit
• After 3 years, they produce gold quality fruit
• After 4 years, they produce iridium quality fruit

Maximizing Fruit Value:

1. Process fruits in Preserves Jars to create Jellies (50% base price increase + 100g)
2. Process fruits in Kegs to create Wines (3x base price increase)
3. Age fruit wines in Casks in the cellar to further increase value (up to 2x the wine value for Iridium quality)
4. Save fruits for Birthday gifts (villagers love receiving fruits on their birthdays)
5. Use fruits to complete Community Center bundles

For optimal profit, establish an artisan goods processing pipeline alongside your orchard. As your fruit trees mature and produce higher quality fruit, your potential earnings will substantially increase.

Using Tappers Effectively

Tappers convert your trees from wood sources into renewable resource generators, providing a steady stream of valuable materials without cutting down the trees.

How to Make and Place Tappers

Setting up a successful tapper operation is straightforward:

Crafting Tappers:

• Regular Tapper: 40 Wood + 2 Copper Bars (Foraging Level 3)
• Heavy Tapper: 30 Hardwood + 1 Radioactive Bar + 1 Battery Pack (Foraging Level 8)

Tapper Placement Process:

1. Craft your desired number of tappers
2. Approach a fully-grown tree (Oak, Maple, Pine, Mahogany, or Mystic)
3. Select the tapper from your inventory
4. Click on the tree to attach the tapper
5. Wait for the tapper to produce resources (collection time varies by tree type)

Tapper Management Tips:

• You cannot place tappers on stumps (only on fully grown trees)
• Placing a tapper on Oak or Maple trees prevents them from transforming into Green Rain Trees during Fall
• Tappers can be removed by hitting them with an axe, returning the tapper to your inventory
• Tappers work on trees anywhere in the world, not just on your farm

For efficient tapper collection, one player recommends: “I want to plant them in columns so I won’t have a hard time harvesting.” This linear arrangement creates clear paths between rows of tapped trees, making product collection simple and efficient.

Tapper Products by Tree Type

Different trees produce different resources when tapped:

Oak Trees:

• Produce Oak Resin
• Used for crafting Kegs (essential for wine production)
• Also used for Quality Sprinklers and Oil Makers

Maple Trees:

• Produce Maple Syrup
• Used for crafting Bee Houses (for honey production)
• Also used for cooking and as gifts

Pine Trees:

• Produce Pine Tar
• Used for crafting Rain Totems
• Also used for Quality Sprinklers

Mahogany Trees:

• Produce Sap
• Used for crafting Basic Fertilizer and Speed-Gro
• Also used for Quality Sprinklers and fishing bait

Mystic Trees:

• Produce Mystic Syrup
• A valuable new resource added in update 1.6
• Used for special crafting recipes

Strategically, it’s wise to have a mix of tapped trees to produce all resource types, with emphasis on Oak Resin if you plan to make a lot of wine.

Tapper Collection Schedule

Understanding the production schedule of tapped trees helps you plan efficient collection routes:

Regular Tapper Production Times:

• Oak Trees: Oak Resin every 7 days
• Maple Trees: Maple Syrup every 9 days
• Pine Trees: Pine Tar every 5 days
• Mahogany Trees: Sap every day
• Mystic Trees: Mystic Syrup every 7 days

Heavy Tapper Production Times:

• Oak Trees: Oak Resin every 3 days
• Maple Trees: Maple Syrup every 4 days
• Pine Trees: Pine Tar every 2 days
• Mahogany Trees: Sap every day (same as regular Tapper)
• Mystic Trees: Mystic Syrup every 3 days

For optimal collection efficiency:

1. Create a Production Calendar: Track when each group of tapped trees will be ready for harvesting
2. Group Trees by Type: Plant trees of the same type together so you can harvest all of one product at once
3. Prioritize Heavy Tappers: If resources are limited, place Heavy Tappers on the most valuable trees first
4. Collection Chest Network: Place chests at strategic points in your tapper network to store products temporarily
5. Daily Route: Establish a daily checking route that takes you past all potential ready tappers

With a well-planned tapper operation, you can generate a steady income and maintain a reliable supply of crucial crafting materials without constantly replanting trees.

Tree-Related Farming Goals

Trees contribute to various progression and optimization goals in Stardew Valley.

Community Center Bundles

Trees and their products are essential for completing several Community Center bundles:

Crafts Room Bundles:

• Construction Bundle: 99 Wood + 99 Wood + 99 Stone + 10 Hardwood
• Exotic Foraging Bundle: Any 5 items from a list including Maple Syrup

Pantry Bundles:

• Artisan Bundle: Any 6 items from a list including Maple Syrup, Jelly, and Wine (from fruit trees)
• Quality Crops Bundle: Requires gold-quality crops that can be fertilized with tree products

Boiler Room Bundles:

• Blacksmith’s Bundle: Requires bars that can be smelted using wood as fuel

Bulletin Board Bundles:

• Fodder Bundle: 10 Hay + 10 Wheat + 3 Apple + 3 Corn
• Chef’s Bundle: May include fruit from your trees
• Field Research Bundle: Requires Pine Tar

Strategically planting specific tree types can help you complete these bundles more efficiently. For example, planting an Apple tree in your first Spring will ensure you have apples ready for the Fodder Bundle by Fall.

Profit Optimization

Trees can be a significant source of income when managed effectively:

Direct Fruit Sales:

• Base fruit prices range from 50g (Cherry) to 250g (Mango)
• Fruit quality multipliers: Normal (1x), Silver (1.25x), Gold (1.5x), Iridium (2x)
• Greenhouse fruit trees produce daily year-round, generating consistent income

Processed Fruit Value:

• Fruit → Jelly (Preserves Jar): 50% base price increase + 100g
• Fruit → Wine (Keg): 3x base price increase
• Fruit Wine → Aged Wine (Cask): Up to 2x wine value for Iridium quality

Tapper Products Value:

• Oak Resin: 150g each (more valuable when used to make Kegs)
• Maple Syrup: 200g each (more valuable when used to make Bee Houses)
• Pine Tar: 100g each
• Mystic Syrup: Higher value resource (new in 1.6)

Optimal Profit Strategy:

1. Plant fruit trees in the Greenhouse for year-round production
2. Process all fruits into wine using Kegs
3. Age high-value wines (Peach, Pomegranate) in Casks
4. Maintain a Oak tree tapper farm for continuous Keg production
5. Sell excess tapper products directly for supplementary income

For maximum long-term profits, a player might combine 18 fruit trees in the Greenhouse (producing daily fruit), 50+ kegs processing those fruits into wine, and cellar casks aging the most valuable wines, creating a complete production pipeline.

Farm Aesthetics and Design

Beyond practical benefits, trees contribute significantly to farm aesthetics:

Visual Design Elements:

• Use different tree types to create varied heights and textures
• Plant trees along borders to frame your farm areas
• Create natural-looking groves with mixed tree types
• Use fruit trees for seasonal color changes

Functional Beauty Approaches:

1. Orchard Alley System: Plant fruit trees in orderly rows with decorative paths between
2. Forest Zone: Designate an area of your farm as a managed forest with paths, tapped trees, and forage items
3. Seasonal Display Garden: Group fruit trees by season with complementary flowers
4. Landscape Focal Points: Use rare trees (Mystic, Green Rain) as centerpieces in garden designs

Practical Design Tips:

• Use paths to mark proper tree spacing and create a clean look
• Integrate lighting (torches, lamps) between trees for nighttime illumination
• Consider the growing size of trees when planning farm layout
• Create multi-purpose areas where aesthetics and productivity combine

One player shares their design philosophy: “I like to set them up in 3 by 3, with 1 space in between trees. Makes it look like a nice clean forest.” This approach balances visual appeal with functional spacing requirements.

With the 1.6 update allowing more farm customization, trees can play an even greater role in creating a distinctive, personalized farm design that reflects your playing style and aesthetic preferences.

Quick Planting Guide

For those who just want the essential information to get started planting trees, here’s a concise reference guide:

Common Trees (Oak, Maple, Pine, Mahogany, Mystic, Green Rain)

1. Acquire seeds through foraging, chopping trees, or purchasing
2. Select the seed from your inventory
3. Click on valid ground to plant (no tilling or watering required)
4. Ensure spacing of at least one empty tile between trees for proper growth
5. Apply Tree Fertilizer (optional) to speed growth and enable winter growth
6. Wait 20-30 days for the tree to reach maturity (varies by tree type and randomness)
7. Harvest wood by chopping with an axe, or place a tapper to collect resources

Fruit Trees (Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Orange, Peach, Pomegranate, Banana, Mango)

1. Purchase saplings from Pierre’s General Store or Island Trader
2. Clear a 3x3 area completely (center tile for planting + 8 surrounding tiles)
3. Select the sapling from your inventory
4. Click on the center tile of your cleared area to plant
5. Keep area clear until the tree is fully grown (28 days)
6. Harvest fruit daily during the appropriate season (or year-round in Greenhouse/Ginger Island)

Tree Knowledge Recap

Understanding the complete tree lifecycle in Stardew Valley helps you make informed decisions about your tree farming strategy:

1. Common trees require one empty space around them to grow fully, while fruit trees need a full 3x3 clear area.

2. Growth rates for common trees are partially random - without fertilizer, seedlings have a 20% chance each night of growing to the next stage, with stage 4 taking twice as long. Median time to maturity is 24 days.

3. Fruit trees always take exactly 28 days to mature, after which they produce one fruit per day during their respective seasons.

4. Tree Fertilizer ensures common trees grow one stage each night (with exceptions for Mahogany and Mystic trees) and enables winter growth.

5. Trees planted in the Greenhouse or on Ginger Island grow year-round and fruit trees produce fruit daily regardless of season.

6. As of update 1.6.9, fruit tree growth is no longer impeded by grass and seed patches.

7. If you uproot a fruit tree, you now get the sapling back (as of update 1.6).

8. Fully grown trees can have objects placed next to them without affecting wood/fruit production.

9. Trees outside the farm can be planted in most dirt/soil areas, creating valuable additional space for tree farming.

10. Trees planted in the Desert will grow during Winter without Tree Fertilizer (as of update 1.6).

By applying these principles, you can create efficient, productive, and aesthetically pleasing tree arrangements throughout your Stardew Valley world.

Action Steps Recap

Start your tree farming journey by planting a mix of Oak, Maple and Pine trees outside your farm for tapping, add fruit trees to your greenhouse for year-round income, and always keep Tree Fertilizer on hand for winter planting.

Further Resources

• Stardew Valley Official Wiki: https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Trees

Stardew Valley Tree-Related Patch History