diff --git a/lib_ecology_tree_utils.lua b/lib_ecology_tree_utils.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad6fec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib_ecology_tree_utils.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+local S = lib_ecology.intllib
+
+
+
+-- Grow trees from saplings
+-- 'can grow' function
+lib_ecology.can_grow = function(pos)
+	local node_under = minetest.get_node_or_nil({x = pos.x, y = pos.y - 1, z = pos.z})
+	if not node_under then
+		return false
+	end
+	local name_under = node_under.name
+	local is_soil = minetest.get_item_group(name_under, "soil")
+	if is_soil == 0 then
+		return false
+	end
+	local light_level = minetest.get_node_light(pos)
+	if not light_level or light_level < 13 then
+		return false
+	end
+	return true
+end
+
+-- 'is snow nearby' function
+lib_ecology.is_snow_nearby = function(pos)
+	return minetest.find_node_near(pos, 1, {"group:snowy"})
+end
+
+lib_ecology.sapling_on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing,
+		sapling_name, minp_relative, maxp_relative, interval)
+	-- Position of sapling
+	local pos = pointed_thing.under
+	local node = minetest.get_node_or_nil(pos)
+	local pdef = node and minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
+
+	if pdef and pdef.on_rightclick and
+			not (placer and placer:is_player() and
+			placer:get_player_control().sneak) then
+		return pdef.on_rightclick(pos, node, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing)
+	end
+
+	if not pdef or not pdef.buildable_to then
+		pos = pointed_thing.above
+		node = minetest.get_node_or_nil(pos)
+		pdef = node and minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
+		if not pdef or not pdef.buildable_to then
+			return itemstack
+		end
+	end
+
+	local player_name = placer and placer:get_player_name() or ""
+	-- Check sapling position for protection
+	if minetest.is_protected(pos, player_name) then
+		minetest.record_protection_violation(pos, player_name)
+		return itemstack
+	end
+	-- Check tree volume for protection
+	if minetest.is_area_protected(
+			vector.add(pos, minp_relative),
+			vector.add(pos, maxp_relative),
+			player_name,
+			interval) then
+		minetest.record_protection_violation(pos, player_name)
+		-- Print extra information to explain
+		minetest.chat_send_player(player_name,
+			itemstack:get_definition().description .. " will intersect protection " ..
+			"on growth")
+		return itemstack
+	end
+
+	minetest.log("action", player_name .. " places node "
+			.. sapling_name .. " at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+
+	local take_item = not (creative and creative.is_enabled_for
+		and creative.is_enabled_for(player_name))
+	local newnode = {name = sapling_name}
+	local ndef = minetest.registered_nodes[sapling_name]
+	minetest.set_node(pos, newnode)
+
+	-- Run callback
+	if ndef and ndef.after_place_node then
+		-- Deepcopy place_to and pointed_thing because callback can modify it
+		if ndef.after_place_node(table.copy(pos), placer,
+				itemstack, table.copy(pointed_thing)) then
+			take_item = false
+		end
+	end
+
+	-- Run script hook
+	for _, callback in ipairs(minetest.registered_on_placenodes) do
+		-- Deepcopy pos, node and pointed_thing because callback can modify them
+		if callback(table.copy(pos), table.copy(newnode),
+				placer, table.copy(node or {}),
+				itemstack, table.copy(pointed_thing)) then
+			take_item = false
+		end
+	end
+
+	if take_item then
+		itemstack:take_item()
+	end
+
+	return itemstack
+end
+
+-- Leafdecay
+-- Prevent decay of placed leaves
+lib_ecology.after_place_leaves = function(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing)
+	if placer and placer:is_player() and not placer:get_player_control().sneak then
+		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
+		node.param2 = 1
+		minetest.set_node(pos, node)
+	end
+end