Having the right amount of trees on your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island is important for several reasons. Trees provide wood for crafting, fruit for selling and eating, and aesthetics for the overall island design. So how many trees should you have? Let’s take a look at the factors to consider when determining the ideal number of trees for your island.
Fruit Trees
Fruit trees are trees that bear fruit in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are 6 different fruit tree types: apple, cherry, orange, peach, pear, and coconut. Each non-coconut fruit tree will bear 3 pieces of fruit every 3 days. Coconut trees will bear 1 coconut every 4 days. So fruit trees provide a renewable food source and potential income from selling the fruit.
You’ll want to have enough fruit trees to meet your needs for crafting, selling, and daily fruit consumption. A good target is to have at least 50 fruit trees on your island. That would give you around 50 pieces of fruit spawning each day, allowing you to eat some, sell some, and use some for crafting. You may need more or less depending on your specific needs.
Recommendations for Fruit Trees
- 50 fruit trees (not including coconut trees) to have a good supply of fruit.
- More if you want to maximize fruit sales.
- At least 2 of each fruit type so you can cross-pollinate and increase fruit spawn rates.
- Space fruit trees out rather than clumping them together for easier harvesting.
Coconut Trees
Coconut trees function a bit differently than fruit trees in Animal Crossing. They spawn 1 coconut every 4 days rather than 3 fruit every 3 days. Coconuts are also used in some unique DIY recipes.
You’ll want to have enough coconut trees to provide a regular supply of coconuts for crafting recipes, selling, and eating. I recommend having at least 15 coconut trees on your island.
Recommendations for Coconut Trees
- 15 coconut trees for a good supply of coconuts.
- Space them out rather than clustering together for easier harvesting.
- Plant along the beach for an island resort aesthetic!
Cedar Trees
Cedar trees provide wood with a unique weathered look that is used in certain DIY recipes. You’ll want to have some cedar trees scattered around your island.
However, cedar trees spawn annoying wasp nests and furniture items, so you don’t necessarily want tons of them. Around 15-20 cedar trees is sufficient for a decorous amount of cedar wood, without being overrun by wasps and furniture drops.
Recommendations for Cedar Trees
- 15-20 cedar trees for a moderate supply of cedar wood.
- Scatter somewhat evenly around the island rather than clustered together.
- Avoid placing directly around frequently used areas if you want to minimize wasp stings.
Hardwood and Softwood Trees
The most common non-fruit tree types are hardwood and softwood trees. These trees provide regular wood and branches for crafting. You’ll want to have a good number of these to ensure you have enough basic crafting materials.
Aim for around 100-150 hardwood and softwood trees combined. Mix them throughout your island for easy access from anywhere. Don’t cluster them too close together.
Recommendations for Hardwood and Softwood Trees
- 100-150 hardwood and softwood trees.
- Mix of both types rather than all one type.
- Spread evenly around the island for easy access.
- Leave enough space between trees for easy movement.
Spruce Trees
Spruce trees provide pine cones and ornamental decorations during certain times of the year. For that reason, you’ll want to have a few scattered around your island.
You don’t need tons of spruce trees, as they take up space without providing continual resources. I recommend 5-10 spruce trees to provide enough pine cones and decorations when needed.
Recommendations for Spruce Trees
- 5-10 spruce trees.
- Scatter around the island rather than cluster together.
- Place some near residential areas for easy access to seasonal decor.
Bamboo Trees
Bamboo is a unique tree in Animal Crossing that spreads rapidly. For that reason, you need to be careful about how much you want to allow it to propagate.
A small bamboo grove with around 10-15 bamboo trees is nice for providing a good supply of bamboo pieces for crafting. But be wary of bamboo spreading out of control across your island due to its fast growing nature.
Recommendations for Bamboo Trees
- Limit bamboo to a controlled grove area.
- 10-15 bamboo trees within the grove provides ample bamboo.
- Place the grove somewhat out of the way to prevent unchecked spreading.
- Check for shoots sprouting up outside the grove daily and dig them up.
Money Trees
Money trees are a special type of tree formed by burying bells in a glowing hole. These trees provide bonus income from the bags of bells that grow on them.
Money trees can provide a nice supplemental income boost. But more than about 10 becomes difficult to keep up with daily tree shaking and harvesting. So aim for around 5-10 money trees on your island.
Recommendations for Money Trees
- 5-10 money trees.
- Space them apart for easy daily harvesting.
- Place near your home or high traffic areas for convenience.
Tree Summary
Here is a quick summary of the recommended number of each tree type for your Animal Crossing island:
| Tree Type | Recommended Number |
|---|---|
| Fruit trees (non-coconut) | 50 |
| Coconut trees | 15 |
| Cedar trees | 15-20 |
| Hardwood trees | 100-150 |
| Softwood trees | 100-150 |
| Spruce trees | 5-10 |
| Bamboo trees | 10-15 |
| Money trees | 5-10 |
Ideal Total Tree Number
Adding up the recommendations for each tree type gives us a total ideal tree number between 300-400 trees.
This provides:
- Plenty of fruit for sale and consumption.
- Ample crafting materials.
- Seasonal resources from cedar, spruce, and bamboo.
- Supplemental income from money trees.
- A pleasing density of trees across the island.
Of course, you can adjust these numbers up or down to fit your own needs and island aesthetic. But in general, aiming for 300-400 trees total will provide you with a good balance of tree density and resources.
Tree Placement Tips
Now that you know about how many of each tree type to have, let’s go over some tips for placing and spacing your trees around your Animal Crossing island:
- Space trees out rather than clumping – this allows you to move easily between them.
- Leave a few open spaces without trees to allow free movement.
- Dot trees around residential areas for easy access to resources.
- Plant rows of fruit trees as orchards for organization.
- Place some trees along paths and walkways.
- Sprinkle different tree types together rather than segregating by type.
- Plant coconut trees along the beach for tropical vibes.
- Make small groves of similar trees in certain areas for texture.
Blending your tree types together and scattering them evenly creates an organic look. Allow enough open space for you and villagers to move around easily. Dotting trees around residents’ homes provides convenient access.
Growing More Trees
If you find your island needing more trees, there are a couple ways to grow them:
- Planting – You can buy saplings from the cabinet at Nook’s Cranny and plant them where desired. Saplings take a few days to grow into trees.
- Transplanting – Fully grown trees can be transplanted by eating fruit and digging up the tree with a shovel. You can then replant it somewhere else.
- Waiting for new sprouts – Over time, new tree sprouts will appear around your island in random places. Allow them to mature if they fit your island layout.
By utilizing these methods, you can increase your island’s tree numbers to reach that ideal 300-400 range.
Cutting Down Trees
If you find yourself with too many trees, you can chop some down by:
- Eating fruit to gain the ability to shovel up full grown trees.
- Chopping down smaller saplings with an axe.
- Simply not planting new saplings.
- Letting existing trees deteriorate if you don’t address dying trees.
Cut down trees in areas that feel too cluttered or impede your ability to move around and design.
Maintaining Trees
To keep your trees healthy and renewable, be sure to:
- Shake trees daily to get resources and prevent deterioration.
- Address dead spots on trees by removing weeds, stumps, etc.
- Water saplings daily until grown.
- Dig up unwanted sprouts quickly to control spread.
- Don’t shake fruit trees while they’re full of fruit to avoid damaging them.
With regular maintenance and care, your island’s trees will stay lush and productive.
Designing With Trees
Trees are an integral part of your island’s landscape design. Here are some design tips:
- Use tree types to create different textures – for example, use mostly fruit trees in an orchard area.
- Plant trees to shape spaces and “walls” for a park or garden.
- Dot trees around houses and buildings to soften the look.
- Line paths and walkways with similarly spaced trees.
- Create focal points by flanking an object like a fountain with trees.
- Use trees to guide the eye where you want it to go.
Strategically placing trees contributes greatly to your island’s look and feel. Blend open spaces, tree density, and layout to create your ideal island vibe.
Checking Tree Numbers
Wondering how many trees you currently have on your island? Here are some ways to check:
- Use your island map to manually count tree icons.
- Do a walk around of your entire island and tally types as you go.
- Buy and use the Count Permits Nook Miles redemption item from the Nook Stop kiosk in Resident Services. This will give you a count of all placed items, including trees.
Keeping track of your tree numbers helps ensure you maintain that perfect balance for your island needs!
Conclusion
The ideal number of trees for your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island is between 300-400 total. This provides ample resources while keeping your island visually appealing and navigable.
Aim for a mix of fruit trees, coconut, cedar, hardwood, softwood, spruce, bamboo, and money trees. Scatter them evenly around areas of activity, while also using trees strategically to enhance your island design.
With the right tree numbers and placement, you’ll have a vibrant, productive island that looks amazing and meets all your crafting needs. Happy planting!
