Should You Cut Down Your Trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? A Comprehensive Guide

The decision of whether to cut down trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a complex one, impacting your island’s aesthetics, resources, and overall gameplay. The short answer is: Yes, you should cut down trees, but strategically. You’ll need to do so to gather essential resources and shape your island, but indiscriminate chopping can negatively impact your island’s potential. Cutting down all of your trees is a bad idea. Let’s dive deeper into why and how you should manage your trees.

The Importance of Trees in ACNH

Trees are far more than just pretty decorations in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They are fundamental to your island’s ecosystem and offer several key benefits:

• Resource Gathering: Trees are your primary source for wood (hardwood, softwood, and regular wood), a crucial material for crafting furniture, tools, and other essential items. Shaking trees also yields tree branches, which are used in a variety of recipes, and can also drop bells and even furniture.
• Bells & Furniture: Approximately 10 trees will have bells, 5 trees are home to bees and 2 will contain furniture. This makes strategic tree management important for your economy.
• Island Rating: Trees contribute to your island’s scenery points, which are crucial for achieving a 5-star island rating. A balanced number of trees is necessary for a high rating; not too few or too many.
• Aesthetics and Customization: Trees are a vital part of island design, allowing you to create a lush, natural-looking environment, or a more open and structured landscape.

When to Cut Down Trees

While trees are essential, there are times when cutting them down becomes necessary:

• Resource Collection: When you need wood, branches, and other resources, you’ll need to utilize your axe.
• Island Customization: To create specific landscaping designs or to make space for buildings or other decorations, you’ll need to clear areas by removing trees.
• Removing Stumps: Cut-down trees leave stumps, which can be removed to obtain a little more wood and to allow new trees to grow. These stumps can also be used for decoration or as a place for small insects to spawn.
• Fruit Tree Management: Sometimes players need to manage or move the location of fruit trees.

Strategic Tree Management

Instead of chopping down every tree in sight, a balanced approach is best:

• Maintain a Variety: Keep a mix of hardwood trees, cedar trees, fruit trees (including coconuts), and bamboo. Each offers different resources and contributes to your island’s biodiversity.
• Optimal Number: Aim to have around 17 regular trees to maximize your chance of obtaining bells and furniture. For a 5-star island, between 190 and 220 total trees (including bushes and bamboo) is recommended.
• Planned Placement: When you replant trees, consider their placement. Avoid planting near buildings, walls, water, or other trees or bushes. Saplings planted in these areas will die.
• Harvest and Replace: Instead of chopping down every tree for resources, chop a few, remove the stumps, then plant new saplings in a more strategic location.

The Consequences of Over-Chopping

Cutting down too many trees can negatively affect your game:

• Resource Scarcity: Without a good number of trees, you will be severely limited on the materials needed for crafting, upgrades, and more.
• Lower Island Rating: Too few trees will decrease your scenery rating, preventing you from achieving a 5-star island.
• Reduced Income: Fewer trees mean fewer opportunities to shake down bells, furniture, and other items.
• Unnatural Environment: A bare island can feel less immersive and less engaging for you and your villagers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do cut down trees grow back in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

No, cut down trees do not grow back in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They remain as stumps until you remove them with a shovel.

2. How do I remove a tree stump in ACNH?

To remove a tree stump, equip your shovel and dig it up. You will receive a small amount of wood for your effort.

3. How many trees should I leave on my island to maximize bells and furniture?

Aim to leave approximately 17 regular trees on your island to maximize the chances of finding bells and furniture when shaking.

4. How many trees do I need for a 5-star island rating?

You need to have at least 190 trees for a five-star rating. The maximum is around 220. Bushes and bamboo count towards this total.

5. What happens if I have too many trees on my island?

If you have more than 220 trees on your island, Isabelle will tell you there are too many.

6. What are the different types of trees in Animal Crossing and how are they different?

There are hardwood, cedar, fruit trees (including coconuts) and bamboo. Hardwood trees drop hardwood, wood, and softwood when hit with an axe, and branches, bells, and sometimes wasp nests when shaken. Fruit trees drop fruit when shaken and do not drop hardwood. Cedar trees drop wood when hit with an axe, and branches when shaken and are visually distinct with their pointed appearance. Bamboo is a resource and can grow more bamboo shoots.

7. Can I move grown trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

No, you cannot move fully grown trees directly in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You must cut them down and plant saplings.

8. How do I get a dead tree in ACNH?

You can craft the decayed tree using 10 pieces of hardwood. The DIY recipe is acquired from smug villagers.

9. Do rocks regenerate in Animal Crossing?

Yes, broken rocks will respawn in a random location on your island, one per day.

10. Which axe is better, the regular axe or the golden axe?

The Golden Axe lasts twice as long as a regular axe before breaking, but it’s more difficult to craft as you need a gold nugget and a special DIY recipe.

11. What are the rules for planting trees in ACNH?

You cannot plant trees too close to buildings, walls, water, other trees, or other hard obstacles. Saplings will die if planted in these areas.

12. How do I get a 5-star island?

To get a 5-star island, you need at least eight villagers, over 665 development points, and over 450 scenery points. Trees, flowers, and furniture all help towards getting the needed scenery points.

13. What reward do you get for a 5-star island rating?

Achieving a 5-star rating unlocks the DIY recipe for the Golden Watering Can, and the chance for Lily of the Valley flowers to grow.

14. What is the maximum amount of bells a money tree can produce?

The maximum amount of bells a money tree can produce is 90,000 Bells.

15. Do villagers get angry if you hit them with a net?

Yes, villagers will get angry if you hit them with a net too many times. However, this will not cause them to leave your island. The decision for a villager to move out is random.

Conclusion

Managing trees is a core element of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Strategic tree management is key to balancing your need for resources and your island’s aesthetics. Remember to only cut down what you need, replace those trees by planting new saplings, and be mindful of your island’s overall design. By following these tips, you’ll create a flourishing island while maximizing your resources and overall enjoyment of the game.