OSRS Oak Tree Farming Guide

OSRS Oak Tree Grow Time and Complete Farming Guide

Farming in Old School RuneScape is one of those skills that can feel slow at first, but once you get into it, it’s super rewarding. Especially with oak trees. They’re like the beginner’s best friend in tree farming. If you’re just starting out or looking to grind some levels, knowing the oak tree grow time is key. It takes exactly 160 minutes for an oak tree to fully grow in OSRS. That’s 2 hours and 40 minutes, broken down into four 40-minute cycles. But there’s more to it than just waiting around. Let me share everything you need to know, drawing from my years playing as an OSRS vet.

I’ve been playing OSRS since it launched back in 2013, and farming was one of the first skills I maxed out. Why? Because it’s passive. You plant, you wait, you harvest XP. Oak trees were my go-to when I was level 15 Farming, scraping together gp from quests. I remember planting my first batch in the Falador tree patch, paying the farmer with a basket of tomatoes I picked myself. Felt like a real accomplishment. But enough nostalgia, let’s dive in.

Oak trees are perfect for low-level players. They give decent XP without breaking the bank. Plus, the grow time is manageable compared to higher-tier trees like maples or yews. Have you ever tried farming willows? Those take longer and cost more to protect. Oaks? Affordable and quick.

One big reason I love them is the logs. You can chop them for Woodcutting XP or sell for a bit of profit. Back when I was ironman mode, oak logs fueled my early Construction training. And don’t forget the roots, they come in handy for herblore potions.

But is it worth the time? Absolutely. With a full tree run, you can net thousands of XP in one go. I used to do runs every few hours while questing.

Requirements for Planting Oak Trees

To get started, you need level 15 Farming. That’s not too hard to reach, just plant some potatoes or onions first.

Essential Items:

• Acorn (the seed)
• Gardening trowel
• Watering can (for the seedling)
• Plant pot (filled with soil)
• Basket of tomatoes (for protection, 5 tomatoes per basket)
• Rake (to clear the patch if needed)
• Seed dibber (to plant the sapling)

Acorns are cheap on the Grand Exchange, usually under 100 gp each. I always buy in bulk.

Where do you plant them? Tree patches! There are five main ones in OSRS.

List of Tree Patches:

• Falador Park (central, easy access)
• Varrock (near the castle)
• Lumbridge (behind the castle)
• Taverley (west of Falador)
• Tree Gnome Stronghold (requires some agility, but worth it)

As a pro tip from my experience, start with Falador if you’re new. It’s close to a bank.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Oak Trees

Planting is straightforward, but let’s break it down. I messed up my first few tries by forgetting to water the seedling. Don’t be like me.

1. Fill a plant pot with soil using a trowel.
2. Plant the acorn in the pot to make an oak seedling.
3. Water it. The seedling grows into a sapling in about 5 minutes.
4. Head to a tree patch, rake if it’s weedy.
5. Plant the sapling with a seed dibber. You get 14 XP here.
6. Pay the nearby farmer one basket of tomatoes to watch over it. This prevents disease.

Now, the waiting game begins. The oak tree grow time kicks in after planting.

What happens during growth? It goes through stages.

Growth Stages Explained

Oak trees have five stages. Each cycle is 40 minutes, but remember, growth checks happen every 5 minutes or so in-game. That’s why sometimes it feels off by a bit.

Here’s a table to make it clear:

From my runs, stage 3 is where disease hits most if unprotected. Always pay the farmer!

Once grown, check its health for 467.3 Farming XP. That’s the big payout. Then chop for logs or dig for roots.

How many roots? Usually 1 to 4. I once got 4 from every tree in a run, felt like jackpot.

Oak Tree Grow Time in Detail

So, the core question: how long does an oak tree take to grow in OSRS? 160 minutes total. But let’s unpack that.

It’s not continuous. The game divides it into four 40-minute intervals. Your tree advances a stage each interval, assuming no disease.

Why 160 and not 200? Some old guides say 200 minutes, but that’s wrong. I checked the wiki myself after a debate with clan mates. It’s 160 for oaks.

In real time, if you’re offline, it still grows. That’s the beauty of farming. I plant before bed, wake up to XP.

But what if it dies? You lose the seed and have to start over. Happened to me early on when I skimped on protection. Lesson learned.

Is there a way to speed it up? Not really, unless you use ultracompost for better survival odds, but growth time stays the same.

Personal Experiences with Oak Tree Farming

Man, oak trees bring back memories. When I was grinding for 99 Farming, I did hundreds of these runs. One time, I teleported to Falador, planted, then hopped to Varrock. Forgot my tomatoes, tree died. Wasted hours.

But on good days, it’s smooth. I pair oak runs with herb patches for max efficiency. Plant herbs, which grow faster, check trees later.

As an expert, I recommend doing full tree runs. Hit all five patches. With teleports like Falador tab or Varrock spell, it’s quick.

Ever had a tree deplete while chopping? Oaks have a 1/8 chance per log. Annoying, but roots are the real prize for herblore.

I ABSOLUTELY swear by protecting them. Skipping payment is risky, especially at low levels.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Oak Farming

Want to level faster? Do tree runs daily.

Best Protection Methods:

• Always use baskets of tomatoes. Cheap and effective.
• For ironmen, grow your own tomatoes in allotments.

What about disease? If it happens, use secateurs to cure. Magic secateurs if you have them from Fairy Tale quest.

Compost helps too. Supercompost reduces disease chance.

How much does it cost? Around 400 gp per tree, including seed and protection. Profit from logs? Minimal, but XP is king.

In my experience, combine with fruit trees for better runs. Apples grow in 960 minutes, but oaks fill the gap.

Question: Can you farm oaks as F2P? No, farming is members-only.

Small answer: Yep, sucks for free players.

Longer thought: But if you’re P2P, it’s worth the membership. I switched early and never looked back.

Comparing Oak Trees to Other Trees

Oaks are entry-level, but how do they stack up?

Willow trees: Level 30, grow time 280 minutes (7×40 min). More XP, but costlier protection (basket of apples).

Curry trees: Level 42, even longer.

Here’s a comparison table:

See? Oaks are quickest for beginners.

I started with oaks, moved to willows around level 40. By 60, yews were my jam for profit.

But oaks? Still do them for quick XP boosts.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Newbies often forget to water seedlings. It won’t grow without it.

Another: Not checking health before chopping. You miss the XP!

From my blunders, always carry extra payments. Farmers can be picky.

What if the patch is occupied? Wait or clear it.

Short para: Disease sucks.

Longer one: If your tree gets diseased, you’ll see yellow leaves. Prune quick, or it dies. I lost a whole run once to lag, couldn’t prune in time. Now I check every hour.

Advanced Strategies for Oak Tree Runs

As an expert, I optimize runs with teleports.

Route: Start at Gnome Stronghold (spirit tree), then Taverley (house tab if POH there), Falador, Lumbridge (tele), Varrock.

Time it around oak grow time, every 3 hours.

Use ultracompost for 1/4 disease reduction.

For max XP, add calquats or palms later.

Ever wondered if growth times vary? Nope, fixed.

But servers might delay checks by 5 min.

In my clan, we share run timers.

Benefits Beyond XP

Oak farming isn’t just levels. Logs for planks, roots for super energy pots.

I used oak roots for early herblore, mixing with ranarrs.

Construction: Oak larders at level 33.

It’s a chain: Farm -> Woodcut -> Construct.

Question: Profitable? Not really, but breakeven.

Small answer: Sell logs for 50-100 gp each.

Longer: If you chop 20-30 logs per tree, that’s 1-2k gp. Minus costs, small profit. But for irons, invaluable.

Updates and Changes to Oak Farming

OSRS evolves. Back in 2014, a fix for oak tree heights.

2015: Pruning checks magic secateurs.

No major changes to grow time.

I follow updates; farming’s stable.

Wrapping Up Your Oak Tree Journey

So, oak tree grow time in OSRS is 160 minutes. Simple, right? But mastering it takes practice.

From my expert view, start small, scale up.

Happy farming! Share your stories in comments.

What was your first tree run like? Mine was chaotic, but fun.

If you’re grinding, oaks are SOLID.

I MEAN, they’re the foundation for higher farming.

Keep planting.