Do You Need a Golden Shovel for a Money Tree in Animal Crossing?

The short answer is no, you absolutely do not need a golden shovel to grow a money tree in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This is a significant departure from earlier games in the series, where the golden shovel had special uses, including being rumored to be a requirement for certain tree-related activities. In New Horizons, any shovel you have on hand will suffice to plant your very own money tree. This change makes the process of cultivating wealth on your island far more accessible and less reliant on rare items.

How to Grow a Money Tree Without a Golden Shovel

The process is remarkably straightforward, ensuring that players of all levels can take advantage of this lucrative feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Locate a Glowing Spot: As you explore your island, you’ll occasionally encounter a glowing spot on the ground, marked by a shimmering golden light. This is your designated spot for planting a money tree.

2. Dig at the Glowing Spot: Use any shovel in your inventory to dig at the glowing spot. This will reveal a small, open hole.

3. Access Your Inventory: Open your inventory and select the Bells icon to show your current total.

4. Choose Your Amount of Bells: You can now select how many Bells you wish to bury in the hole. While you can bury any amount, the community has discovered that burying 10,000 Bells offers the best balance between risk and reward.

5. Bury the Bells: Select the amount of Bells you want to plant. Your character will bury them, and a small sapling will appear in the place of the hole.

6. Wait a Few Days: The sapling needs time to grow into a full money tree. This typically takes a few days.

7. Shake the Tree: Once fully grown, the tree will bear three bags of Bells. Shake the tree to harvest your earnings. If you buried 10,000 bells you will receive 30,000 bells!

Important Considerations:

• Replanting the Sapling: If you don’t like where the glowing spot initially appeared, you can dig up the sapling immediately after planting and move it to a more desirable location. The tree will still grow as usual.
• Profit Optimization: While burying larger sums of Bells is tempting, it is not guaranteed that you will receive more than 30,000 bells from the money tree. The majority of tests from players indicate that 10,000 bells gives you the most consistent payout.
• No Special Care Needed: Money trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons require no special care or watering. Just plant and wait.
• Multiple Money Trees: You can plant multiple money trees if you come across multiple glowing spots. This will allow you to make more money over a period of time.
• Glowing Spots: A new glowing spot will spawn once a day on your island.
• Money Tree Lifetime: Once you shake the tree it is done. It will become a normal, decorative tree.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Money Trees in Animal Crossing

1. Can I bury more than 10,000 Bells for a Money Tree?

Yes, you can bury more than 10,000 Bells. However, burying larger amounts does not guarantee a higher payout. Most players find that burying 10,000 Bells yields the most consistent return of 30,000 Bells. Planting larger amounts does come with a risk of not giving you any more bells in return. It is best to stick to 10,000 Bells.

2. How do I get the golden shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

The golden shovel is obtained by helping Gulliver 30 times. After helping him this many times, you will receive the golden shovel recipe. You will then need 1 gold nugget and 1 shovel to craft the golden shovel.

3. What is the recipe for the golden shovel?

The recipe is received after helping Gulliver 30 times, and the recipe calls for 1 gold nugget and one shovel.

4. Is the golden shovel unbreakable?

No, the golden shovel is not unbreakable. It can be used 200 times before it breaks. However, it will not break while producing materials from rocks or trees.

5. Can I dig up a money tree sapling after planting?

Yes, you can dig up the money tree sapling with any shovel and move it to another location on your island. It will grow as normal after being transplanted.

6. Why isn’t my shovel allowing me to bury bells?

Make sure that you are facing the glowing hole directly and have your shovel equipped. Additionally, ensure that the bells you wish to bury are in your inventory and not just in your wallet. They have to be taken out of your wallet and into your pockets before you can bury them.

7. Can I have multiple money trees on my island?

Yes, you can have multiple money trees on your island as long as you have multiple glowing spots. A new glowing spot appears each day.

8. Why aren’t the trees I buried Bells in growing?

If your tree is not growing it might mean that you have already harvested bells from that tree or that you didn’t bury bells correctly. Make sure the bells are in your pockets and not just in your wallet and that you are facing the hole. Also make sure it has been a few days since you buried them.

9. Is there a way to make money trees grow faster?

Unfortunately, there is no way to make money trees grow faster. Time-traveling is the only way to quickly speed up the process.

10. Do money trees require any special care or watering?

Money trees do not require any special care or watering in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Simply plant and wait.

11. Are money trees permanent on my island?

No, once you shake the money tree to collect your bells, the tree will transform into a regular decorative tree. It will no longer produce bells.

12. Are money trees useful for landscaping?

Once they turn into a normal tree, they are a useable and normal decorative tree on your island.

13. Do glowing spots always appear in the same place?

Glowing spots appear randomly on your island each day. There is no set location where they will appear.

14. Is there any way to increase the number of glowing spots per day?

No, you will only be able to find one glowing spot per day.

15. Are money trees a reliable way to make Bells?

Money trees are a reliable way to make Bells, especially if you stick to burying 10,000 Bells. They provide a consistent and predictable income stream, making them an invaluable addition to your island economy.

In conclusion, while the golden shovel is a sought-after item in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it’s not required to grow money trees. This accessibility makes money trees a fantastic way to increase your income, all while enjoying the daily exploration of your island. Happy planting!