![]() ![]() ![]() Do not tap if the tree is less than ten inches in diameter (31" in circumference). If you don't know the age of your maple tree, you can always figure out if it's old enough to tap by its size. You won't run out of space remember, the tree is growing, giving you more area to tap over the years.Īlthough we covered all of the bases, here are a couple of other things to keep in mind when tapping your maples. Just make sure that the new tap hole is twelve inches above and six inches away from any previous holes. Don't try to re-tap the tree or stop the flow. Some sap may continue to drip from the tree as the tree works to heal itself this is normal. It may take longer than you want, but it's much better to go slowly than force it.Īfter you gently slide the taps out, clean them well and store them until next year. Using the back of a standard hammer is okay, but do not yank or twist the tap. Sometimes, though, you need some leverage to pull the tap out. Some experts say not to use a hammer or pliers to take the taps out, as you may injure the tree. Once sap season is over, it's time to take the taps out. If you're using plastic taps, it's best to push them in by hand.Ī post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas How Should The Taps Be Removed? Use a rubber or wooden mallet metal hammers can cause the tap to go too far and cause unnecessary damage to the tree. Place your tap in the hole and gently tap it in. ![]() Don't try to blow out the shavings since that will introduce bacteria into the hole. Now that you have the hole clear out the shavings with a clean maple twig. The total depth should be about 2.5”, and less than. Dull bits can create ragged holes, which can lead to the growth of bacteria that will inhibit sap flow.Ĭlick here to see Liberty Supply Professional Maple Tree Tapping Drill Bit at Amazon.ĭrill into the tree approximately 1.5” past the bark and into the white wood angled slightly upward. It's best to use a new bit that wouldn't have come in contact with any outside dirt or mold and would be sharp enough to make a clean, smooth hole. Comparatively, forty years is no time at all! Is Your Drill Bit Clean And Sharp?ĭrilling is an essential part of tapping because doing it incorrectly can damage both the sap-gathering and the tree itself. Since a maple can be tapped indefinitely, some syrup in New England comes from trees planted during the Civil War. It takes about forty years for a maple tree to grow large enough to be tapped. How Old Should The Tree Be In Order To Tap It? You may also remember them from when you opened the sticky seed and stuck it on the tip of your nose as a kid. They are winged so that the seeds can be carried far with the wind. The seed pods (or "fruit") are called samaras. Maple trunks have vertical stripes of thick, dark brown bark, with narrow grooves in between. If you're unsure that you're looking at a maple leaf, take a look at the Canadian flag for guidance. The sugar maple is 3-5 inches wide with five lobes. They are lobed, having between 3-9 lobes with jagged edges and prominent veins. The three ways to identify a maple tree are by the leaves, bark, and seed pods. Because of this, we need to make sure the tree your tapping is a maple and not an oak! There are 128 species of maple trees, and although you can make syrup from any maple tree, it's the sugar maple that produces the best quality syrup. Use the right method to tap, and your tree will not be harmed. The best way to tap a maple tree is to be careful and precise. Using incorrect tools, doing the process incorrectly, or not having enough patience can lead to hurting the tree. This, of course, leads to the following question: what is the correct way to tap a maple tree? Continue reading, and you'll see it's not as difficult as you believe! The simple answer is no tapping a maple tree doesn't hurt it, as long as it's tapped correctly. We've done the research and found the answers for you. You have a maple tree in your backyard, and for years you have been thinking about tapping it to make syrup, but you have one concern: does tapping a maple tree hurt it? Don't worry. ![]()
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