Stardew Valley 1.6 · Decision guide
Stardew Valley Hardwood Guide | Secret Woods, Mahogany & Daily Route
Clear the six Secret Woods stumps for 12 Hardwood per visit. Use the appropriate axe, add your farm's renewable stumps, and plant Mahogany Trees for a larger variable supply.
By StardewProfit · Revised
Hardwood sources and axe requirements
| Source | Output | Axe | Repeat schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secret Woods, six Large Stumps | 12 Hardwood | Steel to enter, Copper for stumps | Stumps respawn daily |
| Forest Farm, eight Large Stumps | 16 Hardwood | Copper or better | Stumps respawn daily |
| Four Corners Farm, one Large Stump | 2 Hardwood | Copper or better | Stump respawns daily |
| Mature Mahogany Tree | 8–13 Hardwood | Any axe | Variable growth, replant your grove |
| Woodskip Pond, population 6+ | 5 Hardwood if that output is rolled | None | Random output, requires collection |
| Initial Large Stumps and Logs | Depends on debris cleared | Copper stumps / Steel logs | Existing debris is a finite starting stock |
The Secret Woods entrance is in the northwest of Cindersap Forest. Break its blocking Large Log with a Steel Axe or better. Renewable farm stumps depend on the farm map. The Standard Farm's cleared starting stumps do not form a daily renewable route.
Mahogany Tree growth and rotation
Plant Mahogany Seeds in suitable clear tree-growing space. Without Tree Fertilizer, a Mahogany Tree has a 15% chance to advance a growth stage each night. Fertilized trees have a 60% chance per night and can advance during Winter. Growth remains random across multiple stages.
Chop mature trees for 8–13 Hardwood and replant your grove as seeds become available. Keep a staggered planting schedule if you need recurring harvests. A stock of already-mature trees is useful before a large building project.
Wild Mahogany Trees on Ginger Island can regrow in their original positions. Treat a planted farm grove as a crop of trees to manage and replant.
Sources Mahogany Tree growth and yield and Ginger Island trees.
Woodskip Ponds as a supplement
A Woodskip Pond unlocks a possible five-Hardwood output at population 6. Its other rolls include Roe, Wood and later tree seeds. A full pond can still produce a different item or nothing on a given day. Complete the fish requests to raise capacity and collect the output when available.
Count observed Hardwood collections when comparing the pond with tree planting. The construction uses 5,000g, 200 Stone, 5 Seaweed and 5 Green Algae, and the pond occupies farm space. It is useful when you also value its other output and the low collection workload.
Sources Woodskip population and produce table and Fish Pond construction.
A daily route matched to your target
- Bring your axe and clear any renewable stumps on your farm map.
- Visit the Secret Woods and collect all six stumps for 12 Hardwood.
- Collect pond output, then check your Mahogany grove for mature trees.
- Replant available Mahogany Seeds and fertilize the trees you need sooner.
- Compare your inventory with the next recipe or building requirement before adding another trip.
With all stumps cleared, the Forest Farm plus Secret Woods route yields 28 Hardwood per day. Four Corners plus Secret Woods yields 14. Mahogany and pond output add variable amounts. Travel time depends on your route, movement speed and farm chores.
Hardwood budgets for buildings and machines
| Project | Hardwood | Other required materials |
|---|---|---|
| Stable | 100 | 10,000g and 5 Iron Bars |
| Oil Maker | 20 | 50 Slime and 1 Gold Bar |
| Cheese Press | 10 | 45 Wood, 45 Stone and 1 Copper Bar |
| Cask | 1 | 20 Wood, with Cellar recipe access |
| Keg | 0 | 30 Wood, 1 Copper Bar, 1 Iron Bar and 1 Oak Resin |
For a Stable from zero stock, nine Secret Woods visits give 108 Hardwood. Four complete Forest Farm plus Secret Woods visits give 112. These examples assume every listed stump is collected and none of the Hardwood is spent elsewhere.
Sources Stable, Hardwood crafting and Keg. Compare the Oil Maker and pig setup with the wider machine budget.
Additional version 1.6 sources
Other sources include Mines and Skull Cavern barrels, Mystery Boxes, Lumberjack profession drops from trees and certain dangerous-mine floors. Leah's Desert Festival shop can sell Hardwood for Calico Eggs. After learning Woody's Secret, the Bookseller trades 20 Hardwood for another copy of that book.
Use these opportunities alongside the renewable route when they fit your progression. Source Hardwood source list.
Frequently asked questions
How much Hardwood can I collect each day?
The Secret Woods has six daily respawning Large Stumps, giving 12 Hardwood when cleared. Forest Farm adds eight daily stumps for 16 more Hardwood. Four Corners Farm adds one daily stump for 2. Mahogany Trees and Woodskip Ponds provide additional, variable output.
Which axe do I need for Hardwood?
A Copper Axe or better breaks Large Stumps. A Steel Axe or better breaks Large Logs, including the log blocking the Secret Woods. Mahogany Trees can be chopped with any axe.
Can Tree Fertilizer grow Mahogany overnight?
Mahogany grows through multiple stages. Tree Fertilizer gives a 60% chance of advancing a stage each night, including Winter, compared with 15% without fertilizer. A mature Mahogany Tree yields 8–13 Hardwood.
Does a Woodskip Fish Pond produce Hardwood every day?
At population 6 or higher, a Woodskip Pond can produce 5 Hardwood as a random output. It can produce Roe or other items instead. Collect the pond output and complete population quests to keep the operation useful.
Can Robin sell me Hardwood?
Robin's Resource Rush does not unlock a Hardwood shop purchase. Alternative sources include Mahogany Trees, renewable stumps, random loot and version 1.6 trades at the Bookseller or Leah's Desert Festival shop.
How much Hardwood does a Stable need?
A Stable needs 100 Hardwood, 10,000g and 5 Iron Bars. Starting from zero, nine complete 12-Hardwood Secret Woods visits supply 108 Hardwood.
Do Kegs need Hardwood?
A Keg uses 30 Wood, 1 Copper Bar, 1 Iron Bar and 1 Oak Resin. Hardwood is used by equipment such as Oil Makers, Cheese Presses and Casks.
Read next
More quick answers to help you plan your farm.
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