What Should I Do with Trees in Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide

Trees are undeniably one of the most crucial elements in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They aren’t just pretty foliage; they’re a powerhouse of resources, contributing to your island’s aesthetics, economy, and even your bug-catching adventures. So, what should you do with them? The short answer is: almost everything! Trees in Animal Crossing serve multiple purposes, and mastering their use will significantly enhance your island life. They provide essential building materials, help you earn Bells, allow you to acquire unique items, and even dictate your island’s overall rating. Understanding how to manage, utilize, and even move your trees is key to unlocking the full potential of your deserted island paradise.

The Versatile Utility of Trees

Resource Hubs

Trees are not just static decorations; they’re interactive resources. By shaking or chopping them, you can gather a plethora of useful items:

• Fruit: Fruit trees, be they native or foreign, provide fruit that you can sell, eat for temporary strength boosts, or use in DIY recipes. Harvesting your fruit trees regularly is vital for steady income and resource gathering.
• Bells: Shaking hardwood and cedar trees may yield a 100-bell coin, contributing to your daily earnings. This is a consistent way to get a small amount of money.
• Wasp Nests: Keep an eye out – these trees can drop wasp nests. While the wasps themselves can sting you, selling the nests is another way to make money. Be prepared to quickly catch or run away!
• Furniture: One of the most sought-after tree rewards is furniture. Shaking these trees could result in falling pieces of furniture. It adds an element of fun and unpredictability to your tree management routine.
• Wood: Chopping down trees with an axe provides you with wood, softwood, and hardwood, crucial for crafting tools, furniture, and other essential items.
• Branches: Shaking trees also yields tree branches, a common crafting material. Picking up these branches is vital to keeping your island rating high.

Island Rating and Aesthetics

Trees play a crucial role in the aesthetic appeal and, more importantly, the island rating of your Animal Crossing island. Isabelle judges your island partly based on the number of trees, alongside other factors like furniture, flowers, and fencing. Aiming for a 5-star island rating requires a careful balance of various elements, including a sufficient number of trees.

• Maintaining Balance: Having too few trees will lower your island rating, but too many will also hurt your score.
• Strategic Placement: The strategic placement of trees contributes to your island’s overall look and feel. Creating natural-looking groves, orchards, and themed areas is vital.
• Bug Catching: Certain bugs are attracted to trees and tree stumps, making them vital for filling out your Critterpedia.

Expanding Your Island’s Potential

Trees aren’t limited to what they provide on their own; they also enable further island development:

• Money Trees: Grow a money tree by burying bells in the ground at a glowing spot. They yield a return of either 3,000, 30,000 bells, or three times the amount you planted.
• Moving Trees: With the power of fruit, you can uproot and replant any tree, allowing for strategic landscaping and island design.

Managing Your Island’s Trees Effectively

• Knowing the Limit: Keep in mind that the tree limit in Animal Crossing is 220. Exceeding this number will result in Isabelle mentioning there are too many trees.
• Optimal Number: The ideal number of regular trees for bell and furniture harvesting is around 17.
• Strategic Removal: Clear space for new builds by chopping down trees. Remember, stumps will remain until dug up.
• Tree Varieties: Know the difference between hardwood, cedar, fruit, and bamboo trees, and manage them accordingly.
• Replenish: Plant new trees from fruit to keep a steady supply and maintain your desired island layout.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Trees in Animal Crossing

1. How many trees should I have on my island?

Ideally, aim for about 190 to 220 trees for a 5-star rating, bearing in mind that bushes and bamboo count as trees. For optimal resource harvesting, around 17 regular trees is a good number to maximize bell and furniture drop rates.

2. Can I move trees in Animal Crossing?

Yes! By eating any fruit you can dig up entire trees using your shovel. To replant, simply select the tree from your inventory and choose “Plant.”

3. How do I get wood in Animal Crossing?

Use an axe to chop down trees. You’ll receive wood, softwood, or hardwood depending on the tree.

4. How do I get a money tree?

Find the glowing spot on the ground and bury bells using your shovel. A money tree will sprout, yielding a return of 3,000, 30,000 bells or three times the amount you planted.

5. Do cut-down trees grow back?

No. Cut-down trees do not grow back; they will remain as stumps until removed with a shovel.

6. How many items can I get from a tree each day?

You can get one 100-bell coin from ten trees, a wasp nest (5 per day), and two pieces of furniture from any hardwood or cedar trees each day.

7. Why are my villagers cutting down trees?

Villagers don’t usually cut trees down; they are not a direct cause of removing trees. However, they do indirectly need forest resources for building and other purposes.

8. What happens when I have too many trees?

If you exceed 220 trees, Isabelle will inform you that you have too many, and your island rating may be negatively affected.

9. Do bamboo trees count towards the tree limit?

Yes, bamboo trees count toward your island’s tree limit.

10. What is the decayed tree and how do I get it?

The decayed tree is a craftable item. It can be obtained by crafting with 10 pieces of hardwood. You will need to get the DIY recipe from smug villagers.

11. What is the rare flower I get with a 5-star island?

The Lily of the Valley is a rare white flower that grows naturally when your island reaches a 5-star rating. It continues to spawn as long as you maintain a 5-star island.

12. What does eating fruit do?

Eating fruit gives your player temporary power for using your axe or shovel. You can use this to uproot a tree or break a rock. You can store up to 10 power strikes by eating 10 pieces of fruit.

13. Which axe is better?

The Golden Axe is more durable than the regular axe. However, it’s difficult to acquire and requires a gold nugget to craft.

14. How do I get different types of fruit for planting?

You can get different fruit by visiting other player’s islands or receive them via in-game letters.

15. Can I replant flowers I’ve picked?

Yes! You can dig up flowers with your shovel, and they will be stored in your inventory for replanting or selling.

In conclusion, trees in Animal Crossing are incredibly versatile and crucial for a fulfilling island experience. They provide resources, income, and even determine your island’s overall rating. By effectively managing and utilizing your island’s trees, you can create the perfect island paradise while maximizing all the benefits that nature has to offer. So get out there, shake some trees, and enjoy all that the forest has in store for you!