Cliff Glitch: How to Plant Trees on Clifftop Edges

Learn how to plant trees on cliff edges with our step-by-step guide for Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) on the Nintendo Switch. Read on for more information about the glitch with our guide below!

What is the Cliff Tree Glitch?

Players have discovered a bug that allows you to plant or move a tree to a cliff edge. Normally trees require a space of at least one tile on each side, so this obviously opens up more possibilities for decorating your island!

Take note that this is a glitch not intended by the developers and may be taken out in future updates.

How to Do the Cliff Tree Glitch

Steps to

The Island Designer app and Cliff Construction Permit are required to be able to recreate this glitch.

Summary of Steps

1. Create a 3x3 cliff

First off, prepare your cliff. A 3x3 space is necessary, but not required. You can create a larger cliff to accommodate more trees, but let us make things simple for now.

2. Dig up 1 corner tile of the cliff

Next, select a corner where you want the tree to be next to, and dig that up.

3. Create 2 water tiles around the cut corner

Pull out the Waterscaping Permit, and use it to create 2 water tiles diagonal to the corner you just cut.

4. Create a rounded edge to fill in the water

With the same tool, dig up the inner tile to create a rounded curved tile of water. Take note that the curve should be facing outwards against the cliff.

5. Climb the cliff and dig a hole by the cliff corner

Grab your ladder and climb the cliff. Wherever you cut the cliff, that is where you will dig the ground to plant the tree.

6. Plant the tree

Select the tree from your pockets and plant it. You can repeat the steps to plant trees in other areas of your island. You can also remove the remaining cliff edges to it looks natural.

How to Remove Cliff Edges

Round the tiles

First off, dig up a corner tile to round its edge.

Dig up the next tile to destroy the 2 tiles

Dig the adjacent tile to destroy both tiles.

You can leave a 1x1 cliff

Using the same method, you can leave out the 1x1 tile in the center. It may take some practice, and you might need to redo the whole thing if you make a mistake, but you can keep trying! For a step-by-step process, check the next section.

How to Leave a 1x1 Cliff Tile on a Tree

Summary of Steps

1. From the cut corner, select an adjacent corner and round its edge

From the corner you cut, choose the next adjacent corner to remove. In this image, the cut corner it the lower right edge, and we chose to round the upper right edge.

2. Dig the tile next to it to destroy 2 tiles

Dig the tile next to it, the edge tile, not the other tile that is in the middle, to destroy the 2 tiles.

Once you have used Island Designer enough, you will be able to understand this process. When you dig up a tile that is next to a rounded tile, both tiles are destroyed.

3. Repeat the steps for the next corner

Round the edge

Destroy both tiles

Repeat the same process for the next corner. Round the edge first, and dig the next tile to destroy them both.

4. Round the remaining corners

Round the lower left edge

Round the remaining edge

This step is different from the previous ones. Do not get hasty by digging up tiles at random. Make sure to round the remaining 2 corners first.

If you mess this up, you will need to redo the whole process all the way from planting the tree to an edge.

5. Dig the tile between them to destroy the 3 remaining tiles

With both rounded tiles connected to the middle tile, dig it up to destroy all 3 remaining tiles. You are left with a 1x1 tile where the tree is rooted.

How to Remove Trees on Cliff Edges

Call the Cleanup Service

The Island Designer app has a cleanup service to assist you with making cleaning up items faster.

Only Items and Fences are Sent to the Recycle Box

Other items that are not furniture such as trees can be removed with the cleanup service, but they will not be sent to the Recycle Box. Take note that only items and fencing can be sent there. You can retrieve the items by picking them up at Resident Services.

You Cannot Remove Flowers and Bushes

Unlike trees, you cannot remove flowers and bushes using by using the cleanup service, so that is something you should watch out for!

Patch Updates

Patches

As of Version 2.0.4, this glitch has not yet been patched.

Punishment and Repercussions

The are currently no repercussions to performing this glitch.

Related Guides

DLC and Event Updates
List of New Features	List of New Horizons DLC
April Ver 1.2 Update	July Ver 1.3 Update
August Ver 1.4 Update	September Ver 1.5 Update
November Ver 1.6 Update	January Ver 1.7 Update
February Ver 1.8.0 Update	1st Anniversary Event
March Ver 1.9.0 Update	April Ver 1.10.0 Update
April Ver 1.11.0 Update	ACNH Direct and November Update
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack	November Ver 2.0.1 Update
November Ver 2.0.2 Update	November Version 2.0.3 Update
December Ver 2.0.4 Update
Merchandise and Promotions
Sanrio amiibo Pack	Build-A-Bear Collection
How to Use the Island Tour Creator	Original Soundtrack and Sheet Music
UNIQLO Collection	PUMA x ACNH Collab
Bugs and Patch Updates
Maintenance | Fix Errors	How to Update and Update Patch Notes
Game Glitches
How to Climb the 4th Cliff Level	How to Plant Trees on Clifftop Edges
1x1 Item Duplication Glitch [Fixed]	2x1 Item Duplication Glitch [Fixed]
Mailbox Item Duplication Glitch [Fixed]	How to Plant Trees on Paths [Fixed]
How to Swim in Rivers | How to Sit in Pools	How to Center Items on Tables Outside
Pre-Release Content
Animal Crossing Direct	Is there a Demo?
Pre-order Bonuses	Giveaways
How to Pre-load