OSRS Farming Maple Trees: A Comprehensive Guide to Leveling and Profits

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a variety of skills to master, and Farming stands out as one of the most rewarding yet time-intensive activities. Among the many tree options available, maple trees strike a balance between experience, cost, and accessibility, making them a popular choice for players looking to level up their Farming skill efficiently. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about farming maple trees in OSRS, from requirements and methods to maximizing profits and experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned farmer, this blog post will help you optimize your maple tree runs for success.

Maple trees are a mid-tier Farming option that unlock at level 45, offering a decent chunk of experience (3,448.4 XP per tree) while remaining relatively affordable compared to higher-tier trees like yews or magics. They’re an excellent stepping stone for players progressing through the Farming skill, bridging the gap between low-level trees like willows and the more expensive, slower-growing options.

Benefits of Farming Maple Trees

Moderate Experience Gains: At 3,448.4 XP per tree, maple trees provide a solid return for the time invested.
Cost-Effectiveness: Maple seeds typically cost between 20k-30k GP each, making them cheaper than high-tier seeds.
Accessibility: Available to mid-level players, requiring only level 45 Farming to plant.
Woodcutting Bonus: Once grown, maple trees can be chopped for logs, adding extra value.

Who Should Farm Maple Trees?

Maple trees are ideal for players who have outgrown willows (level 30) but aren’t ready to invest heavily in yews (level 60) or magic trees (level 75). They’re also a great choice for free-to-play (F2P) players looking to train Woodcutting passively, as maple logs are a decent resource in F2P worlds.

How to Start Farming Maple Trees in OSRS

Getting started with maple tree farming is straightforward, but it requires some preparation. Below, we’ll break down the requirements, tools, and steps to plant and grow your first maple tree successfully.

Requirements and Tools

To farm maple trees, you’ll need to meet the following prerequisites and gather some essential items:

Farming Level: 45
Maple Seeds: Obtainable from bird nests, Wintertodt, or the Grand Exchange.
Plant Pot: Fill it with soil using a gardening trowel.
Watering Can: Used to water the seedling after planting.
Spade: For planting the sapling in a tree patch.
Baskets of Oranges: 5 oranges per tree (25 total) to pay the farmer for protection.
Teleport Methods: To quickly reach tree patches (e.g., Explorer’s Ring, Amulet of Glory).

Step-by-Step Planting Process

Use a maple seed on a filled plant pot with a gardening trowel to create a seedling.
Water the seedling with a watering can to turn it into a maple sapling.
Travel to a tree patch (locations listed below).
Use a spade to clear the patch if necessary, then plant the sapling.
Pay the nearby farmer 5 baskets of oranges to protect the tree.
Wait 5 hours and 20 minutes (320 minutes) for the tree to fully grow.
Check the tree’s health for XP, then chop it down or leave it for Woodcutting.

Best Tree Patch Locations for Maple Trees

OSRS offers five standard tree patches for planting maple trees, each with its own advantages based on proximity and teleport options. Choosing the right locations can save you time and effort during your Farming runs.

Tree Patch Locations Table

Location	Teleport Method	Notes
Falador Park	Falador Teleport	Central location, easy access for early-game players.
Taverley	Taverley Teleport or House Teleport	Close to Falador, good for quick runs.
Varrock Castle Courtyard	Varrock Teleport	Convenient for Grand Exchange trips.
Gnome Stronghold	Spirit Tree or Gnome Glider	Great for P2P players with Gnome quest progress.
Farming Guild (Level 65)	Skills Necklace	Unlocked at 65 Farming, ideal for higher levels.

Tips for Efficient Runs

To streamline your maple tree farming, plan your route based on teleport availability. A common efficient run might look like this: Falador > Taverley > Varrock > Gnome Stronghold > Farming Guild (if unlocked). Use teleports like the Explorer’s Ring for Falador or an Amulet of Glory for Varrock to cut down travel time.

Maximizing Experience and Profits with Maple Trees

While maple trees offer solid XP, they’re not the most profitable crop due to the moderate value of maple logs (around 30-50 GP each). However, with the right strategies, you can optimize both your experience gains and potential earnings.

Experience Optimization

Combine with Other Crops: Plant fruit trees like pineapples (level 51) or papayas (level 57) alongside maples to boost XP per run.
Farming Guild Boost: At level 65, the extra patch in the Farming Guild increases your total XP per cycle.
Diary Bonuses: Completing the Medium Kandarin Diary gives a 10% XP boost when chopping maples in Seers’ Village (Woodcutting XP, not Farming).

Profit Strategies

While maple trees themselves aren’t a goldmine, you can offset costs or turn a small profit:

Chop for Logs: Harvest maple logs after checking health for Woodcutting XP and sell them on the Grand Exchange.
Bird Nests: Occasionally, chopping maples yields bird nests, which can contain valuable seeds or rings.
Minimize Costs: Grow your own oranges using fruit tree patches to reduce the expense of protection payments.

Cost vs. Reward Analysis

Let’s break down the numbers:

Cost per Tree: Maple seed (~25k GP) + 5 oranges (~1k GP) = ~26k GP
XP per Tree: 3,448.4 Farming XP
Potential Revenue: 20-30 maple logs (~1k GP total) + occasional nests (~5k-50k GP)
Net Loss: Around 20k-25k GP per tree without nests, breaking even or profiting slightly with nests.

For pure profit, higher-level trees like yews or magics are better, but maples remain a cost-effective XP option.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Farming Maple Trees

Farming maple trees is simple once you get the hang of it, but new players often stumble into pitfalls that waste time or GP. Here’s how to avoid them.

Forgetting to Pay for Protection

If you skip paying the farmer 5 baskets of oranges, your maple tree has a high chance of becoming diseased and dying, resulting in zero XP and a wasted seed. Always double-check your payments.

Inefficient Timing

Maple trees take 5 hours and 20 minutes to grow, so plan your runs around your play schedule. Logging in too late might mean missing a cycle, while checking too early wastes time. Use a timer or align with other activities like fruit tree runs (16-hour cycles).

Overlooking Teleport Options

Running between patches on foot is a rookie mistake. Invest in teleports like the Skills Necklace, Explorer’s Ring, or Spirit Tree access to save minutes on every run—time adds up over multiple cycles!

Final Thoughts on OSRS Maple Tree Farming

Farming maple trees in OSRS is a fantastic way to progress from mid-level Farming to the higher tiers, offering a balanced mix of XP and affordability. While not the most profitable option, the consistent experience gains and potential Woodcutting bonuses make it a worthwhile endeavor. Pair it with efficient routes, smart cost management, and a bit of patience, and you’ll be well on your way to 99 Farming. Ready to grab your spade and start planting? Your maple tree empire awaits!