The Prop Line Tool (PLT) places trees and props in straight lines, curves and circles instead of one by one. Enable the mod, pick a tree, switch the drawing mode and set the spacing — then draw tree-lined avenues, curved alleys or a ring around a roundabout in seconds. Prop & Tree Anarchy helps when the game blocks placement.
準備 · What you need
- Prop Line Tool (PLT) ↗ — install before launching the game
- Prop & Tree Anarchy ↗ — highly recommended
- Prop Precision ↗
- Random Tree Rotation ↗
The Prop Line Tool saves hours of landscaping. Instead of clicking trees one by one, you draw them along a line: straight, curved or in a circle, with the spacing you choose. It’s the difference between an avenue that looks planned and one that looks like it was planted by hand on a Friday afternoon.
Before you start
Install the Prop Line Tool (PLT) before launching Cities: Skylines and check it’s enabled (0:41). Prop & Tree Anarchy is highly recommended: without it the game refuses many placements close to roads and buildings, which is exactly where street trees go. Prop Precision helps with fine positioning, and Random Tree Rotation stops rows of trees looking copy-pasted.
The vanilla way, for comparison
The normal tree brush (1:45) paints trees at random within a circle. That’s fine for forests and parks, but useless for avenues, alleys and anything that should look designed.
Using the tool
- Pick a tree or prop as you normally would.
- Switch the drawing mode in the PLT panel (2:20): single, straight line, curve, freeform or circle.
- Set the spacing. For street trees, roughly one tree per building plot looks natural; tighter spacing reads as a formal avenue.
- Draw (2:32). Click to set the start and end points (and the bend for curves), then confirm to place the row.
Three patterns worth knowing
Avenues. A straight line on each side of the road, same spacing on both sides. Offset the second row by half a step for a softer look.
Curved alleys (3:12). Follow a bending path or a curved street. Draw the curve slightly inside the kerb so the trees don’t clip into the road.
Circles (4:28). A clean ring of trees inside or around a roundabout, or around a plaza. This one is almost impossible by hand.
It’s not just for trees
Any prop works: street lamps, bollards, benches, fences, flower pots. Lamp posts along a promenade or bollards along a pedestrian street are quick wins for detail.
Tips
- Less is more. A row of trees with gaps at junctions and driveways looks more real than an unbroken wall.
- Mix species sparingly. One species per street, maybe two. Real cities plant in series.
- Check from street level. What looks even from above can look crowded from below.
Today’s alternative
The Line Tool mod does the same job in the current game and is covered in the mods guide. In Cities: Skylines II, Advanced Line Tool by algernon fills the same role; it’s in the CS2 Mod Stack.
Video chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:41Checking that the mod is enabled
- 1:45The regular way of painting trees
- 2:20The Prop Line Tool settings
- 2:32Using the Prop Line Tool with trees
- 3:12Creating curved alleys
- 4:28Circled tree arrangements for roundabouts
- 6:44Showcase of what was built
Clicking a chapter starts the video above at that point.
FAQ
Does the Prop Line Tool still work?
It was the standard tool when the video was made. Newer players often use the Line Tool mod for the same job — it appears in the 2023 mods guide.
Why won't my trees place along the road?
The game blocks props that overlap roads or buildings. Prop & Tree Anarchy lifts that restriction.
How do I place trees in a circle in Cities: Skylines?
With the Prop Line Tool or Line Tool: pick the tree, switch to circle mode, set the spacing and draw around the centre point.
Can I use the Prop Line Tool for street lamps?
Yes. It works with any prop — lamps, bollards, benches, fences and flower pots.
