How to Make Tree Saplings in OSRS A Step-by-Step Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a rich Farming skill that lets players grow trees, fruits, and crops to earn experience and make profits. One key aspect of tree farming is creating tree saplings, which are essential for planting in tree patches across Gielinor. Whether you’re a new player or an Ironman looking to optimize your Farming runs, this guide will walk you through the process of making tree saplings in OSRS, including tips for efficiency and profitability. Let’s dive into the details!

A sapling in OSRS is a tree seedling that has matured enough to be planted in a tree patch. Saplings are created by planting a tree seed in a filled plant pot and watering it, allowing it to grow over a short period. They’re a critical component of the Farming skill, enabling players to grow trees like oak, willow, maple, yew, or even high-value magic trees. According to the OSRS Wiki, saplings require the appropriate Farming level to plant, which can be boosted temporarily if needed. Fun fact: Tool Leprechauns can note saplings, but you’ll need to unnote them at a bank before planting.

Why Make Your Own Saplings?

While you can buy saplings directly from the Grand Exchange (GE), making your own can save money and be profitable, especially for high-value trees like magic or palm trees. For Ironman accounts, crafting saplings is often necessary due to limited GE access. Plus, the process is relatively quick and can be done in bulk, making it a great way to prepare for tree runs.

Materials Needed to Make Tree Saplings

Before you start, gather the necessary items to streamline the sapling-making process. Here’s what you’ll need:

Tree Seeds: Choose seeds based on your Farming level (e.g., acorns for oak at level 15, magic seeds for magic trees at level 75).
Filled Plant Pots: Fill empty plant pots with soil using a gardening trowel at any farming patch.
Gardening Trowel: Essential for filling pots and planting seeds.
Watering Can or Humidify Spell: To water seedlings. The Humidify spell (requires 68 Magic and completion of Dream Mentor) is highly recommended for efficiency.
Gold Coins: For purchasing seeds or pots from the GE if you don’t have them.

Pro Tip: Stock up on seeds and pots in advance, especially for high-demand seeds like magic or palm, which have low GE buy limits.

Where to Get Materials

You can obtain materials from various sources:

Tree Seeds: Bird nests, monster drops, farming contracts, or the GE.
Empty Plant Pots: Buy from farming shops (e.g., Vanessa in Catherby) or the GE.
Gardening Trowel: Farming shops or tool stores like the one in the Farming Guild.
Watering Can: Fill at any water source, such as the fountain near the Lumbridge tree patch.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tree Saplings

Follow these steps to create tree saplings efficiently:

Step 1: Fill Plant Pots with Soil

Use an empty plant pot on any farming patch with a gardening trowel in your inventory to fill it with soil. You can do this at patches like the one near Lumbridge or in the Farming Guild. Each pot requires one use of the trowel, so prepare multiple pots for bulk sapling production.

Step 2: Plant the Tree Seed

With a gardening trowel in your inventory, use a tree seed on a filled plant pot to create a seedling. The Farming level required to plant the seed in a pot matches the level needed to plant the sapling in a tree patch (e.g., level 15 for oak, level 75 for magic). Temporary boosts, like a Garden Pie, can help if you’re slightly below the required level.

Step 3: Water the Seedling

Use a watering can on the seedling to water it, or cast the Humidify spell to water multiple seedlings at once. The seedling will now have a “(w)” in its name, indicating it’s watered. If using a watering can, this step can be click-intensive, so Humidify is a game-changer for large batches.

Step 4: Wait for the Sapling to Grow

Watered seedlings take approximately 0–5 minutes to grow into saplings, even when banked. This makes it easy to prepare saplings in advance and store them until you’re ready for a tree run. Check your bank’s Tab 1 if you can’t find your saplings, as they may move there automatically.

Step 5: Verify and Store

Once the seedlings become saplings, they’re ready to plant in a tree patch with a spade. Saplings stack in the bank but not in your inventory, so plan your tree runs accordingly. Be cautious when noting saplings at a Tool Leprechaun, as you’ll need to unnote them at a bank before planting.

Profitability of Making Tree Saplings

Making saplings can be a profitable side hustle, especially for high-level seeds. Here’s a breakdown of potential profits based on common tree types, assuming seeds and pots are bought from the GE (prices fluctuate, so always test with one sapling first):

Tree Type	Farming Level	Seed Price (GE)	Sapling Price (GE)	Profit per Sapling
Oak	15	~30 coins	~200 coins	~150 coins
Willow	30	~20 coins	~1,500 coins	~1,400 coins
Maple	45	~7,000 coins	~12,000 coins	~4,800 coins
Yew	60	~30,000 coins	~40,000 coins	~9,500 coins
Magic	75	~90,000 coins	~95,000 coins	~4,500 coins

Note: Prices are approximate and based on GE data from sources like the OSRS Wiki. Magic saplings, for example, can yield around 4,526 coins profit per sapling, with potential hourly profits of 4M coins if you process 1,700 saplings per hour. Always check current GE prices and account for the GE tax, which can cut into margins.

Tips for Maximizing Profits

Test the Market: Buy one seed and make one sapling to confirm profitability before investing heavily.
Use Humidify: Speeds up the watering process, allowing you to produce more saplings per hour.
Buy Seeds Overnight: Place low buy offers for seeds to save money, as high-value seeds like magic have low buy limits.
Sell Strategically: Check the instant buy price of a sapling and sell yours slightly below to maximize profit.
Diversify Seeds: If magic seeds are too expensive, try willow or maple saplings for lower-level, high-profit options.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Sapling Production

To make sapling production as smooth as possible, consider these strategies:

Optimize with Humidify

The Humidify spell (requiring 68 Magic and Dream Mentor) waters all seedlings in your inventory instantly, saving significant time compared to using a watering can. This is especially useful for Ironman accounts or players making hundreds of saplings at once. Ensure you have a steam battlestaff to reduce rune costs.

Plan for Tree Runs

Saplings are just the first step in tree farming. Prepare for tree runs by gathering teleports (e.g., Varrock teleport, Skills Necklace for Farming Guild) and protection payments (e.g., baskets of tomatoes for oak trees). Paying gardeners to protect trees ensures they don’t die, guaranteeing Farming XP. Alternatively, use ultracompost to reduce disease risk if you want to save on payments.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Not Checking Farming Levels: Ensure your Farming level matches the seed’s requirement, or use a boost.
Noting Saplings: Noted saplings can’t be planted until unnoted at a bank, so avoid noting unless necessary.
Ignoring GE Tax: The GE tax can reduce profits, so factor it into your calculations.

Scaling Up for Ironman Accounts

Ironman players often find sapling creation tedious due to the need to spam-click seeds and water them. To make this easier, use Humidify and stockpile seeds from farming contracts or bird nests. Some players suggest an NPC in the Farming Guild to automate sapling creation for a fee, but this isn’t currently available, so manual preparation is key.

Making tree saplings in OSRS is a straightforward but rewarding process that can boost your Farming skill and bank balance. Whether you’re growing oak saplings at level 15 or magic saplings at level 75, the steps remain the same: fill pots, plant seeds, water, and wait. By using tools like Humidify and planning your tree runs, you can maximize efficiency and profits. Start small, test the market, and soon you’ll be a sapling-making pro, ready to grow towering trees across Gielinor!