OSRS Oak Tree Farming Time Guide for Efficient Training

OSRS Oak Tree Farming Time Guide for Efficient Training

Farming oak trees in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a fantastic way to level up your Farming skill efficiently, especially for early-game players. With a relatively low requirement of level 15 Farming, oak trees are accessible and provide decent experience points (XP) for minimal effort. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about oak tree farming, including growth times, preparation steps, optimal tree run strategies, and tips to maximize your efficiency. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player looking to optimize your farm runs, this post has you covered.

Oak trees are the first significant step in tree farming for OSRS players, offering a balance of accessibility, affordability, and XP rewards. Here’s why they’re a great choice:

  • Low Requirements: Only level 15 Farming is needed, making it beginner-friendly.
  • Fast Growth: Oak trees take approximately 200 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes) to fully grow, allowing multiple runs per day.
  • Cost-Effective: Acorns and payment items (baskets of tomatoes) are relatively cheap on the Grand Exchange.
  • Decent XP: Planting an oak sapling grants 14 Farming XP, and checking a fully grown tree yields 467.5 XP, totaling 481.5 XP per tree.

For players aiming to reach higher Farming levels quickly, oak trees are a stepping stone to more advanced tree runs while keeping costs low.

How to Farm Oak Trees Step-by-Step

Farming oak trees requires preparation and a clear process. Below is a detailed breakdown of the steps involved.

Gathering the Necessary Items

Before starting, ensure you have the following items, most of which can be purchased from Vanessa’s Farming Store or the Grand Exchange:

  • Acorns: One per tree patch.
  • Plant Pots: One per acorn to create seedlings.
  • Gardening Trowel: To fill plant pots with soil.
  • Watering Can: To water seedlings.
  • Rake: To clear weeds from patches.
  • Spade: To plant saplings and dig up trees.
  • Baskets of Tomatoes: One basket (5 tomatoes) per tree for gardener payment to prevent disease.
  • Supercompost (Optional): Increases yield and reduces disease risk.
  • Teleport Items: For quick travel to tree patches (e.g., Lumbridge, Varrock, Falador teleports).

Preparing Oak Saplings

Follow these steps to create oak saplings:

  1. Use a gardening trowel on a farming patch to fill a plant pot with soil.
  2. Plant an acorn in the filled pot.
  3. Water the pot with a watering can to create an oak seedling.
  4. Wait a few minutes for the seedling to grow into an oak sapling (this can happen while banked).

Tip: Prepare multiple saplings in advance to streamline your farm runs.

Planting and Protecting Oak Trees

Once you have saplings, head to a tree patch. There are five regular tree patches in OSRS:

Location Teleport Method Notes
Lumbridge Lumbridge Teleport West of Lumbridge Castle, close to the bank.
Varrock Varrock Teleport In Varrock Castle courtyard.
Falador Falador Teleport In Falador Park, near the bank.
Taverley Falador Teleport + Run North of Falador, near Taverley.
Tree Gnome Stronghold Spirit Tree or Gnome Glider Requires partial completion of The Grand Tree quest.

For each patch:

  1. Rake the patch to remove weeds.
  2. Apply supercompost (optional but recommended).
  3. Plant the oak sapling using a spade.
  4. Pay the nearby gardener 1 basket of tomatoes to protect the tree.

Note: Paying the gardener ensures the tree won’t die or become diseased, saving you time and resources.

Oak Tree Growth Time and Farming Strategy

Oak trees take 200 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes) to fully grow, making them one of the fastest-growing regular trees in OSRS. This short growth cycle allows players to perform multiple tree runs per day, significantly boosting Farming XP.

Timing Your Tree Runs

To maximize efficiency, plan your tree runs around the 200-minute growth cycle. For example:

  • Morning Run: Plant oak saplings at 8:00 AM.
  • Midday Check: Return around 11:20 AM to check health and replant.
  • Evening Run: Plant again at 11:30 AM, check at 2:50 PM, and so on.

Using the RuneLite client’s Farming Timer plugin can help track growth progress, ensuring you don’t miss a cycle.

XP Breakdown and Run Efficiency

Each oak tree provides:

  • 14 XP for planting.
  • 467.5 XP for checking health.
  • Total: 481.5 XP per tree.

With five tree patches, one full run yields 2,407.5 XP (481.5 XP × 5). Completing three runs daily results in 7,222.5 XP, which is substantial for low-level Farming training.

Optimizing Your Oak Tree Farm Runs

To make your oak tree runs as efficient as possible, consider these tips and strategies.

Teleportation and Travel Efficiency

Minimize travel time by using the fastest teleport methods:

Pro Tip: Scrolls of Redirection from Nightmare Zone can redirect house teleports to other portals, saving time.

Boosting XP with Additional Methods

While oak trees are the focus, you can supplement your Farming XP by:

  • Questing: Complete quests like Fairytale Part 1 (1–17 Farming) or Garden of Death (10,000 XP) to skip early levels.
  • Hosidius Favour: Gain 5–100% Hosidius Favour by making fertilizer, which grants Farming XP and unlocks the Farming Guild.
  • Bagged Plants: Plant bagged plants in your Player-Owned House for low-level XP.

Managing Costs

Oak tree farming is budget-friendly, but costs can add up. Here’s a rough cost breakdown per run (based on Grand Exchange prices as of April 2025):

Item Quantity Cost (GP)
Acorn 5 ~500
Basket of Tomatoes 5 ~1,000
Plant Pot 5 ~50
Total – ~1,550

Use supercompost sparingly if on a budget, as gardener payments already prevent disease.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these pitfalls to ensure smooth oak tree farming:

Skipping Gardener Payments

Not paying the gardener with a basket of tomatoes risks your tree becoming diseased or dying, which delays your run and wastes resources. Always pay for protection unless you’re actively monitoring your trees.

Inefficient Travel Routes

Running between patches without teleports wastes time. Stick to the suggested teleport methods and plan your route (e.g., Lumbridge → Varrock → Falador → Taverley → Gnome Stronghold).

Forgetting to Replant

After checking a tree’s health, dig it up with a spade to clear the patch and replant immediately. Forgetting to replant delays your next cycle.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Farming oak trees in OSRS is an efficient, low-cost way to train Farming from level 15 onward. With a growth time of 200 minutes, you can complete multiple runs daily, racking up thousands of XP while keeping expenses minimal. By optimizing your teleportation methods, preparing saplings in advance, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to higher Farming levels.

Once you hit level 30 Farming, consider transitioning to willow trees or adding fruit trees like apple trees (level 27) to your runs for even more XP. For further boosts, complete low-level Farming quests and unlock the Farming Guild with Hosidius Favour. Happy farming, and may your trees grow strong!