Can I Replant Trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, absolutely! Replanting trees is a fundamental aspect of island customization in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). This capability allows you to reshape your island’s landscape, relocate fruit trees, establish orchards, or even just strategically place trees to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your personal paradise. Understanding how to move trees effectively is crucial for any aspiring island designer. This article will delve into the details of tree replanting in ACNH, addressing common questions and providing useful tips.
The Basics of Tree Replanting
How to Uproot a Tree
The process of moving a tree in ACNH involves a few simple steps. The first thing you need is fruit. Consuming a piece of fruit grants you a temporary boost, allowing you to uproot a tree with your shovel. You can consume up to ten pieces of fruit, granting you ten “power strikes”. Once you’ve eaten some fruit, equip your shovel, approach the tree, and press “A.” The entire tree will be lifted from the ground, leaving a hole behind. It’s that easy! The uprooted tree will then go into your inventory.
Replanting a Tree
Once a tree is in your pocket, you can replant it wherever you choose. Simply open your inventory, select the tree, and select the “Plant” option. However, it’s important to note that there are rules governing where trees can be planted, which are covered in the next section.
Rules for Planting Trees
Understanding the rules that govern where trees can and cannot be planted is crucial to avoiding disappointment. Here’s a rundown of the key limitations:
Spacing Requirements
Trees will only grow if there’s at least one empty tile surrounding them on all sides. This means they need one free square in every direction—north, south, east, and west. This free square must be empty, not occupied by other trees, buildings, cliffs, or bodies of water.
Placement Limitations
While flowers, furniture, and other placed items can exist in the adjacent blocks, other trees, structures, and cliffs cannot. Trees also cannot grow on the sand of the beach, and they can only be planted on dirt, grass, or terraformed land. Furthermore, note that a tree will not grow if it is planted on a corner, even if there are empty tiles around it. The tree requires that at least one tile on each side is free of obstructions or other trees.
Saplings vs. Grown Trees
The rules surrounding planting still apply to saplings. Planting a sapling too close to other trees or structures will prevent it from maturing into a fully grown tree. If you plant a sapling and it doesn’t seem to grow, it might be because it’s too close to something, or because it was planted on a corner. If the tree is a sapling, however, it can be dug up and moved if necessary without needing to consume any fruit.
Special Tree Types
Money Trees
Money trees are a special type of tree that can be moved after planting. Once a player plants bells into a glowing hole in the ground, a small sapling will sprout. At that stage, you can dig it back up and relocate it. This adds flexibility in where you can place your money-bearing trees.
Cedar Trees
Cedar trees are a distinct type of tree, differentiated from fruit, money, and regular trees by their appearance. These trees can only be planted on the upper level of your island (cliffs) or above, and function differently from regular saplings. For instance, they may have Christmas lights during certain times of the year.
Tree Management Strategies
Creating Orchards
Replanting trees makes it easy to organize your fruit trees into orchards. This way, all your fruit-bearing trees are in one easily accessible spot. You can even create different orchards for different types of fruit.
Building Tree Farms
A tree farm is a dedicated area where you can grow trees for wood. Trees regrow their wood after a few days, so a good supply of trees makes a sustainable source of wood.
Clearing Space for Customization
The ability to move trees allows players to clear land on their islands for building projects and landscaping. Tree removal becomes less permanent when you can simply relocate them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I plant a tree on the beach?
No, trees cannot be planted on the sand of the beach. They require dirt, grass, or terraformed land to grow. You can, however, plant coconut trees on the beach.
2. Do I need to water trees in ACNH?
No, watering trees is not necessary in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They will grow on their own without any need for irrigation.
3. Can I move a tree that’s already fully grown?
Yes! As long as you’ve eaten fruit, you can dig up and move a fully grown tree. It’s just as simple as moving a sapling.
4. What do I do with the hole after I dig up a tree?
The hole left behind after uprooting a tree can either be left alone to disappear on its own after a few days or you can fill the hole with your shovel.
5. Is there a limit to how many trees I can plant?
Yes, there is a tree limit. You can have a maximum of 220 trees on your island, including hardwood, cedar, fruit (including coconuts), and bamboo.
6. What happens if I try to plant a tree too close to another?
If you plant a tree too close to another tree or structure, it will not grow. You must leave the required one-tile space around it. The tree will not grow on a corner.
7. Can I move buildings like I can move trees?
No, while you can move most buildings, there are limitations. You cannot move the Resident Services building, the Plaza, or the Airport. These are fixed to the location you selected for your island at the start of the game.
8. How do I know where to plant my money tree?
You can plant a money tree in any of the glowing holes that appear daily on your island. If you don’t like the spot where a money tree has spawned, remember you can dig it up as a sapling and relocate it!
9. What is a pitfall seed?
A pitfall seed is an item that, when buried, will trap any villager or player who walks over it. These seeds look like any other buried item, but cause a surprise fall into the ground.
10. Does the type of fruit I eat affect my ability to move a tree?
No, any type of fruit will give you the necessary power to uproot a tree. All fruit has the same “power strike” effect.
11. How do I get different types of trees besides my native fruit trees?
You can obtain different types of fruit from your friends in online play or from mystery island tours. You can then plant those fruit trees on your island. Cedar trees, bamboo, and coconut trees are also available from your island and the various islands that can be accessed.
12. How many regular trees should I have on my island?
For maximizing the harvest of bells and furniture, it’s recommended to have approximately 17 regular trees. This generally results in about 10 trees having bells, 5 having bees, and 2 having furniture each day.
13. Can I speed up tree growth in any way?
No, there is no way to speed up tree growth in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You simply have to wait for them to grow naturally.
14. Can I plant coconut trees inland?
No, coconut trees need to be planted on the beach. They will not grow anywhere else on your island.
15. How do I get a tree to grow in a specific spot?
To ensure a tree grows in your desired location, first make sure that spot has all the space requirements, and is not on a corner. Once you are sure of that, plant your tree or sapling in that spot. It will grow as long as the spacing rules are followed.
By understanding these rules and guidelines, you can effectively customize your island using tree replanting. Enjoy transforming your island into the paradise of your dreams!