If you’ve ever run out of wood mid-build after trekking across three biomes just to chop down a handful of pines, you already know how frustrating resource scarcity can get in Enshrouded. Many new players assume you can only forage for wood from naturally spawning trees, but that’s far from the case. Learning how to plant trees enshrouded will cut down your farming time by hours, and let you customize your base with greenery that fits your aesthetic. I’ve spent over 80 hours testing different planting methods across base locations, so I’m breaking down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the most common mistakes new players make.
What You Need to Know Before You Plant Trees in Enshrouded
You don’t unlock the ability to grow your own trees right when you start a new save, and a lot of new players miss the requirement entirely if they rush through early questing. You first need to unlock the Farmer NPC by rescuing them from the Ancient Spire in the Revelwood biome, which you can access once you hit level 10 and have a basic set of iron gear. The rescue quest is short, only requiring you to clear a small group of Shroud enemies from the spire’s lower level, but it’s one of the most valuable early-game quests you can complete.
Once you’ve placed the Farmer at your base, you’ll get access to seed bed crafting recipes and the ability to process tree seeds into transplantable saplings. Different tree types drop different resources, so you’ll want to pick which ones to grow based on what you use most: pine drops basic construction wood, birch drops fine wood for decor and mid-tier builds, and oak drops hardwood for high-end weapons and armor crafting. You can’t plant trees directly on raw stone or Shroud-covered ground, so you’ll need to clear any corrupted areas or lay down dirt blocks if you want a farm in a rocky or Shroud-adjacent spot.
Trees also need space to grow, even more than most crop types. You’ll need at least 2 empty blocks on all sides of a sapling, plus 6 blocks of clear overhead space, for it to mature properly. If you skimp on space, your sapling will disappear after a few in-game minutes with no warning, and you’ll waste the seed you used to grow it.
Step-by-Step Process to Plant and Grow Trees Successfully
The planting process is far simpler than most players assume once you have the Farmer unlocked, but skipping even one step can lead to failed saplings and wasted resources. I’ve refined this process over dozens of farm builds, and it works for every tree type in every biome except palm trees, which only grow in the Kindlewastes:
- Craft a seed bed at your Farmer’s workbench using 10 wood planks, 5 pieces of rope, and 2 units of compost (you can make compost from rotting food or plant fiber at a compost bin)
- Collect tree seeds by chopping down fully grown wild trees of the type you want to plant – you’ll get 1-3 seeds per tree on average, and higher-tier axes increase your seed drop rate
- Place the seed bed on tilled soil, add your chosen seeds, and wait 10 in-game minutes for the saplings to be ready for transplant
- Dig a 2x2 patch of grass or dirt at your desired planting location, remove any nearby objects that block overhead space, and place the sapling in the center
- Wait 20 in-game minutes for the tree to fully mature, at which point you can harvest it for wood and new seeds to expand your farm
You don’t need to water saplings after planting, which is a common misconception I see spread in new player groups all the time. Enshrouded doesn’t have weather or pest mechanics that hurt tree growth, so as long as you have enough space, your sapling will grow every single time. If your sapling vanishes after a few minutes, just move it to a more open spot and try again, and double check that you didn’t accidentally place it too close to a wall, torch, or storage chest.
When you plant trees in Enshrouded near your main base, you can also set up a small chest right next to the farm to store extra wood and seeds, so you don’t have to carry heavy stacks back to your main storage every time you harvest. I keep a steel axe stored in that chest too, so I never have to run back to my tool rack when it’s time to cut down mature trees.
Best Tree Types to Plant for Different Playstyles
You don’t have to plant every tree type if you don’t want to, and picking the right ones for how you play will save you a lot of time and space. I’ve tested all three common tree types for different playstyles, and these are the picks that work best for most players:
If you’re a base building focused player who spends most of your time designing custom structures and decor, Birch trees are the best pick. They drop fine wood, which is used for almost every high-end decor piece and smooth construction block, and they grow 10% faster than oak trees, so you’ll never run out of material mid-build. They also have a lighter, brighter look that fits really well with Meadows and Revelwood base designs, so they double as decor for your base perimeter.
If you’re a combat focused player who spends most of your time clearing dungeons and fighting world bosses, oak trees are the ideal choice. They drop hardwood, which is required for upgraded weapon handles, reinforced shields, and high-tier armor crafting stations. They take 5 minutes longer to mature than pine or birch, but they have a 30% higher wood yield per tree, so you’ll get more material per harvest to keep up with your repair and crafting needs.
If you’re a casual player who just wants a low-effort supply of basic wood for repairs and small builds, pine trees are the way to go. They grow the fastest of any tree type, and they drop 2 extra seeds per harvest on average, so you can expand your farm to whatever size you want in just a couple of in-game hours. They don’t drop rare wood types, but they’re perfect for new players who are still getting the hang of base management.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Trees in Enshrouded
I made almost every possible mistake when I first started growing trees in Enshrouded, so you don’t have to. These are the most common errors that cost players time and resources, and they’re all really easy to avoid if you know what to look for.
The first mistake I see all the time is planting trees too close to base walls or roofs. I did this on my first save, planting a row of pines right up against my storage building, and half of them never grew because the roof blocked their overhead space. I had to tear down half the farm and move it 6 blocks away from the wall to fix it, which wasted almost an hour of play time. Always measure the space before you plant, and leave a little extra room if you’re not sure.
You should collect at least 10 seeds of your chosen tree type before setting up your farm so you don’t run out halfway through building it. A lot of new players chop down one tree, get 2 seeds, and expect to build a full farm, then end up having to trek back across the map to forage more seeds right when they’re ready to plant. If you spend 10 minutes chopping down wild trees before you head back to your base, you’ll have enough seeds to build a farm that supplies all your wood needs for 10+ hours of play.
Another common mistake is planting trees right next to your crop farm. Trees block sunlight from all crop types, so any carrots, wheat, or berries you plant within 5 blocks of a mature tree will stop growing entirely. I split my base into separate farming zones, with my tree farm on an elevated platform 10 blocks away from my crop beds, so neither interferes with the other. If you have limited base space, you can even build your tree farm on a separate floating platform high above your base, as long as you have dirt blocks for the saplings to sit on.
Planting trees might seem like a small quality of life tweak at first, but it completely changes how you manage resources in Enshrouded. Once you get your farm up and running, you’ll never have to drop a half-finished build to go foraging for wood again, and you can decorate your base with as much greenery as you want. Take the time to unlock the Farmer early, test different tree types to see what fits your playstyle, and don’t get discouraged if your first batch of saplings fails to grow. Mastering how to plant trees enshrouded is one of the most useful skills you can pick up for both early and late-game play, and it only takes a few minutes to set up your first small farm.