Understanding the NoFloatingTrees Plugin for Minecraft Servers
Floating tree tops are one of those small annoyances that can ruin the visual appeal of a carefully crafted Minecraft world. When players chop down only the lower logs and leave the rest suspended in mid-air, it creates an unnatural look that frustrates server admins and builders alike. The NoFloatingTrees plugin tackles this problem head-on by automatically removing leftover logs after a tree is partially cut, allowing leaves to decay naturally and keeping your landscapes clean.
How the Plugin Cleans Up Your World
Once installed, NoFloatingTrees watches for tree-cutting activity. When a player breaks a log block, the plugin checks if the remaining logs above are now disconnected from the ground. Those floating logs are added to a decay queue. After a configurable waiting period—40 seconds by default—the logs will start to disappear one by one, mimicking the natural leaf decay process. This means you don’t have to fly around manually removing half-harvested trees, saving hours of admin time.
There’s a clever balance built in: each decaying log has a 15% chance of dropping an item, so players aren’t rewarded with free wood just by waiting. This discourages the lazy tactic of chopping the bottom and letting the plugin do the rest. All these percentages and timings can be tweaked in the configuration file to match your server’s style.
Key Features and Customization
NoFloatingTrees is lightweight and highly configurable. The default settings work well for most survival servers, but you can fine-tune the behavior using the config.yml file. Here are the main options:
- Decay frequency: How often the plugin checks for floating logs (in seconds). Default is 2 seconds, keeping the process smooth without causing lag.
- Wait time: The delay before a floating log starts decaying. This gives players a chance to finish cutting the tree if they’re still working on it.
- Chance: The probability per decay check that a log will be removed. Set it to 100 for instant vanishing, or lower for a gradual disappearance.
- Drop chance: The likelihood that a decaying log drops its item. Increase it if you want to reward patience, or set it to 0 to completely prevent resource duplication.
- Ignore worlds: You can list dimensions like the Nether or the End where trees aren’t normally harvested, improving performance by skipping those worlds entirely.
Integration with LogBlock and Permissions
For servers that use LogBlock for rollback and logging, NoFloatingTrees integrates seamlessly. When a log is removed by the plugin, the action is recorded under the username “NoFloatingTrees,” so you can track exactly what was cleaned up. If you prefer not to log these removals, simply set use-logblock to false in the config.
The plugin also includes two simple commands for admins:
/nft queue– Displays the number of blocks currently waiting to decay. Requires thenofloatingtrees.queue.sizepermission (defaults to OPs)./nft purge– Immediately removes all floating trees across the server, regardless of player proximity. Requires thenofloatingtrees.queue.purgepermission.
These commands give you direct control when you need to clean up an area quickly, perhaps before a building contest or a server event.
Performance and Compatibility Notes
Because the plugin only processes chunks that are loaded (near players), it has minimal impact on server performance. The decay queue is efficient, and you can further reduce overhead by listing worlds where tree cutting doesn’t happen. Keep in mind that NoFloatingTrees only works on trees cut down after the plugin is installed; existing floating logs from before installation won’t be affected. Running the /nft purge command can help clean up legacy messes manually.
For those who enjoy tweaking their single-player worlds or modded servers, similar tree-felling mechanics can be found in various client-side mods. If you’re exploring modded gameplay, the foxygame.net launcher offers a straightforward way to install mods like NoFloatingTrees directly from its menu, making the setup process much smoother and more flexible.
Why Every Survival Server Needs This Plugin
Floating trees aren’t just an eyesore—they can also interfere with mob spawning, block sunlight, and make it harder to spot player-built structures. By automating the cleanup, NoFloatingTrees keeps your world looking pristine without requiring constant staff intervention. It’s a set-and-forget solution that respects the vanilla decay mechanics while adding a layer of polish.
Whether you run a small community server or a large public network, this plugin helps maintain immersion and reduces the need for players to report floating trees. The configurable drop chance also adds a subtle economic twist: players might think twice before leaving a tree half-chopped, knowing they’ll lose potential resources.
Getting Started and Community Support
Installation is straightforward: drop the plugin JAR into your server’s plugins folder, restart, and tweak the config to your liking. The source code is openly available on GitHub, and contributions are welcome if you want to add features or fix bugs. The developer encourages forking and pull requests, as long as the code style and project structure are respected. If you encounter issues, use the ticket system on the plugin’s page rather than the comments section, as that ensures your report gets the attention it deserves.
Development builds are also available for those who want to test the latest changes before an official release. Just remember that these builds are experimental and should be used with caution on live servers.
Final Thoughts
NoFloatingTrees is a small but mighty tool that solves a persistent problem in Minecraft. It blends seamlessly with vanilla mechanics, respects server performance, and gives admins the power to customize decay behavior. If floating treetops have been a pet peeve of yours, this plugin is the clean, automated answer you’ve been looking for.