Maple Trees OSRS Farming: A Complete Guide to Growing and Profiting

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of skills to master, and Farming is one of the most rewarding yet time-intensive ones. Among the many plants you can grow, maple trees stand out as a popular choice for mid-level farmers looking to balance experience gains with potential profits. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about maple trees in OSRS Farming—from planting and growing to chopping and profiting. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your Farming journey, this blog post will help you optimize your maple tree runs and make the most of this versatile tree.

Maple trees are a fantastic option for players looking to level up their Farming skill efficiently while keeping costs manageable. Unlocked at level 45 Farming, they strike a balance between accessibility and experience rewards, making them a staple for mid-tier training. But why exactly should you consider maple trees over other options like oak or willow trees? Let’s explore the benefits.

The Appeal of Maple Trees

Maple trees offer a solid 3,448 total Farming experience per tree (45 for planting, 3,403 for checking health), which is a significant jump from lower-tier trees like willows (1,456.5 XP total). They’re also relatively affordable compared to high-level trees like magic or palm trees, making them a practical choice for players who aren’t swimming in gold.

Versatility of Maple Logs

Once grown, maple trees can be chopped down for maple logs, which have multiple uses in OSRS. These logs are valuable for training Firemaking, Fletching (e.g., crafting maple shortbows or longbows), and even as a resource for quests like Enlightened Journey. This versatility adds an extra layer of utility to your Farming efforts.

AFK-Friendly Woodcutting Bonus

After checking the health of your maple tree, you can chop it down for logs, providing a decent AFK Woodcutting training method. At level 45 Woodcutting, each log grants 100 XP (or 110 XP in Seers’ Village with the Medium Kandarin Diary completed), making it a nice bonus for multitasking players.

How to Grow Maple Trees in OSRS

Growing maple trees in OSRS is straightforward once you understand the process. Below, we’ll break down the step-by-step method to get your maple trees sprouting and thriving in no time.

Requirements for Planting Maple Trees

To start growing maple trees, you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements:

Farming Level: 45
Items Needed: Maple seed, filled plant pot, gardening trowel, watering can, spade, rake, and 1 basket of oranges (for protection)
Tree Patch Access: Available at locations like Falador Park, Taverley, Varrock Castle, Lumbridge, and the Farming Guild

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Follow these steps to successfully plant and grow a maple tree:

Prepare the Sapling: Fill a plant pot with soil using a gardening trowel, then plant a maple seed in it. Water it with a watering can to create a maple seedling, which will grow into a sapling after one crop cycle (0-5 minutes).
Find a Tree Patch: Head to one of the five standard tree patches in OSRS.
Clear the Patch: Use a rake to remove weeds from the patch.
Plant the Sapling: Use your maple sapling on the cleared patch with a spade in your inventory to plant it (earns 45 XP).
Protect the Tree: Pay the nearby gardener 1 basket of oranges to watch over your tree and prevent disease.
Wait for Growth: The tree takes 5 hours and 20 minutes (320 minutes) to fully grow.
Check Health: Once grown, check the tree’s health for 3,403.4 XP.

Growth Time and Efficiency Tips

Maple trees grow in eight stages, taking roughly 40 minutes per stage. To maximize efficiency, consider using ultracompost if you’re not paying for protection, as it reduces the chance of disease. Pair your maple tree runs with other Farming activities like herb or fruit tree runs to make the most of your time.

Best Locations for Maple Tree Farming

Location is key when it comes to Farming in OSRS. The five standard tree patches are strategically placed across Gielinor, and choosing the right ones can streamline your runs. Here’s a breakdown of the best spots for growing maple trees.

Top Tree Patch Locations

Location	Teleport Method	Notes
Falador Park	Falador Teleport	Close to a bank and easy to access early-game.
Taverley	Taverley Teleport (House Portal with redirection scroll)	Quiet spot with quick access via teleports.
Varrock Castle	Varrock Teleport	Central location with nearby bank in the Grand Exchange.
Lumbridge	Lumbridge Teleport	Great for free-to-play players or early-game runs.
Farming Guild	Skills Necklace	Requires 45 Farming and 60% Hosidius favor; offers a bank nearby.

Optimizing Your Tree Run Route

For an efficient maple tree run, start at the Farming Guild (if accessible), then hit Falador, Taverley, Varrock, and Lumbridge. Use teleports to minimize travel time, and bring a stack of noted baskets of oranges to pay gardeners quickly. This route keeps you moving fast and banking easy.

Profiting from Maple Trees in OSRS

While Farming maple trees is primarily about gaining experience, there’s also potential to turn a profit—or at least offset your costs. Let’s look at how you can make money with maple trees and whether it’s worth the investment.

Cost vs. Reward Analysis

Here’s a quick breakdown of the economics:

Maple Seed Cost: Approximately 30,000-35,000 GP (varies on the Grand Exchange)
Basket of Oranges: Around 1,000-1,500 GP
Total Cost per Tree: ~31,000-36,500 GP
Maple Logs Value: 20-30 GP each (you might get 50-100 logs per tree)
Maple Roots Value: 500-1,000 GP each (if dug up)

Chopping the tree might yield 1,000-3,000 GP in logs, plus roots if you dig it up, but this rarely covers the seed cost. The real value lies in the XP, not direct profit.

Alternative Money-Making Strategies

If profit is your goal, consider these options:

Sell Maple Saplings: Crafting saplings from seeds and selling them on the GE can net you 1,000-2,000 GP profit per sapling, with up to 1-2M GP/hour at scale.
Farming Contracts: At the Farming Guild, contracts often request maple trees, rewarding you with seeds and other loot.
Birdhouse Runs: Use maple logs from your trees to craft birdhouses, which can generate passive income and seeds.

Tips and Tricks for Maple Tree Farming Success

To get the most out of your maple tree Farming, a few extra strategies can go a long way. Here are some pro tips to enhance your experience and efficiency.

Maximizing Experience Gains

Pair maple trees with other high-XP crops like fruit trees (e.g., pineapple or papaya) or hardwood trees (e.g., teak or mahogany) to boost your overall Farming XP per run. Completing quests like Fairy Tale I – Growing Pains also unlocks useful Farming tools and patches.

Managing Costs Effectively

Save gold by gathering your own oranges from fruit trees or buying in bulk when prices dip. Avoid over-relying on expensive seeds unless you’re rushing to 99—maple trees are a marathon, not a sprint.

Dealing with Disease and Regrowth

Paying the gardener is the safest bet to avoid disease, but if you skip this, use ultracompost and check your trees regularly. Once chopped, maple trees regrow naturally, so you can keep cutting them for logs without replanting if you’re focused on Woodcutting.

Maple trees in OSRS Farming are a fantastic mid-tier option for players looking to level up efficiently while enjoying the game’s relaxed pace. Whether you’re in it for the XP, the logs, or a bit of profit on the side, this guide has you covered. Start planting today, and watch your Farming skill—and your bank—grow!