Saplings are an important resource obtained from leaves that allows trees to be grown. Saplings can be planted on any dirt or grass block, and will grow into a new tree if they are exposed to a light level of at least 9 in the block above the sapling, and have at least a certain number of empty blocks, depending on sapling type, above the dirt block it is placed on. Oak and birch saplings need 6 blocks above, while pine saplings need 7 blocks. However, they will grow slower if they have less than 10 blocks above the dirt. Saplings also will only grow if placed upon a dirt block that is not surrounded by water.