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The sweetness of the syrup produced from this tree is comparable to that of a Sugar Maple tree, even though it is churned out in less abundance. You want to hit the xylem or sapwood of the tree. Hooks. But, that doesn’t mean the process isn’t worthwhile. You will want to use a bit about the same diameter as your spile (typically 5/16″ or 7/16″ ). If you’re only placing one tap, you will want it on the south side of the tree. For example, a tree more than 15″ in diameter can handle 2 taps, and 20″ can handle 3 taps, etc…. That is where the sap is going to start to flow first because that side of the tree warms up first. The European, black, river, gray, white, and yellow birch trees can also be tapped, but the sap they each produce is not generally nearly as sweet as the sap that flows from the Paper Birch tree. Each tap will yield 5-15 gallons of sap per season. It’s that time of year again, fellow homesteaders… tree tapping time! We are the leading site for home based maple sugaring, the process of sap collection and making maple syrup. This gives the sap a chance to flow up during the day, and down at night. Tapping Maple Trees for Syrup (Acer Species) There are 10 different species of maple tree that can be tapped for syrup. Tap My Trees is the #1 supplier of maple sugaring supplies for the hobbyist. You want your spile to fit tightly. Many tappers use a mixture of 1-part bleach (unscented) to 20 parts water to clean their equipment. In the spring, the sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) does something magical. Hard maple tree leaves often appear to boast a “U” shape, and soft maple tree leaves have a shape than looks more like a “V” shape. Since the leaves can’t help you identify the species this time of year, you’ll want to get a winter field guide like this one to identify which are maples if you aren’t familiar with the characteristics. The sugar and syrup produced from this variety is incredibly sweet and delicious. You’ll insert the spile into the loop on the hook and pound it gently into place using a hammer. above photo shows silver maple tree leaves. 5. • Red – Sap from this maple tree contains about a 1.7% sugar content. Generally, if the weather is right, the sap will immediately begin flowing from the tree. Hang your bucket or bag on the tree – this is usually done by hanging it onto the hook facing outward on the spout, but not all spouts and spiles come with a hook. Unless you purchase a maple sugar starter kit like this one. Hey there! • Filtering Material – You can buy sap filters, but cheesecloth will do the trick just fine. If the tree measures 18”-24” two taps can be installed in the tree if the tree has a diameter greater than 24” then 3 taps can be installed in the tree. • White Walnut – Sap from the White Walnut (or Butternut Tree) contains the same high percentage of sugar as the Sugar Maple tree. When you start tapping, you’re actually drilling a hole into the trunk of the tree with a power drill. Look for unblemished bark and don’t bore too close to an older tap-hole. Trees between 10 and 20 inches in diameter should have no more than one tap per tree. The abundance of sap will vary depending not only on the tree, but the type of maple. It will be a clear liquid that does not look all that much different from water. Keep in mind that it takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. I used to tap trees and make maple syrup, lots of fun with plenty of hard work. Do not hammer the spile Black maple (Acer nigrum) Black maples produce as much sweet sap as sugar maples. The season usually lasts about a month to a month and a half is all and the most sap will flow earliest in the season. Attach the lid to the bucket and spout/spile as indicated by the directions on your specific equipment. Required fields are marked *. • Sycamore – Sap from this tree has a yummy butterscotch flavor. Scrub the equipment with a firm brush and rinse, at least two to three times, with very hot water and allow them to air dry fully before storage or use. The maximum is 4 taps per tree because you don’t want to stress the tree too much. Tap in the spout good and snug – … Its sugar content is approximately 2.0%. Generally, a single tree can be tapped up to three times before you have to move on to another one. The sugar content of the Black Maple tree is approximately two percent. How to Tap a Maple Tree A sugar maple is the most popular tree to tap due to the high concentration of sugars. 6. Join our facebook group of over 13,000 like-minded individuals, where we learn about growing a garden, cooking a meal, and living life like our grandparents did. • English Walnut – If you have purchased walnuts to bake with or simply to munch upon from your local grocery store, they probably came from this variety of tree. The sap from maple and most other tappable trees begins to flow when the temperature during the daytime is consistently above freezing, and when evening temperatures still hover at or below 32 degrees. The Plateau Native American tribes often tapped the Rocky Mountain Maple tree for sugar and syrup. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A corded drill will work in a pinch, but it’s going to make use of a lot of drop cord unless you have electrical outlets next to your trees. How you collect and boil sap can look pretty different depending on the kind of setup you have, but the first step, tapping, is pretty universal. Everyone would go out around late February into March and tap maples for syrup. A lot of times you will tap a tree that you think is a maple tree going to find out that there’s no SAP the reason why there’s no SAP is that it’s probably not a maple. So, if you’re placing two put one on the south side and one on the north. Copyright © 2020 The Rustic Elk •all rights reserved•. We are enrolled in the Amazon Associates program, so we may earn a commission if you purchase something from Amazon after clicking one of our links. In my personal experience, the 5-gallon buckets with lids sold at farm and garden stores like Tractor Supply or Rural King work just fine for tapping trees. No problem, there are more than one dozen other trees common to the United States that can also be tapped for syrup and sugar. This is usually around 3 feet. Keep checking until the sap stops flowing and then you can turn the sap into syrup. The Sycamore sap yield is usually a lot less than nearly every version of maple tree. • Some folks love to drink the sap right after it flows from the tree, this is not recommended! Wife, mama to three awesome farm girls, and passionate about helping others ditch the status quo to live more self sufficient lives, no matter where they live. Sugar maples provide the most sap while silver maples, black and even red can also be utilized and provide sugar. Leaves from soft maple trees are usually a light greenish or yellow-green color. Some of the reviews on this site may be compensated by the companies whose products were reviewed. While the syrup is very tasty, the Red Maple tree creates less sap than either the Black or the Sugar Maple tree varieties. When to Tap Maple Trees for Sap. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This are your “taps”. You can also get pre-made tree sapping kits on Amazon. Typically, a 7/16 or 5/16 drill bit will work for most spouts and trees. They make these in metal and even plastic. A second tap may be added to trees between 20 and 25 inches in diameter. First off, you can tap many deciduous trees for sap. The hole drilled should be between 2 to 2.5 inches deep. The trees, maple and otherwise, that have average to above average sunlight exposure usually produce the most sap. The tree needs some of that sap to produce buds and leaves. • Big Leaf – These maple trees are routinely found growing abundantly from California all the way up to British Columbia. You need to make sure you’re ready. Typically, trees are prime for tapping between the middle of February through mid-March. You can usually tap the Black Walnut tree in every season except the summer. You should assume any link is an affiliate link. You will take your drill and drill to the depth required by your spile, about 2 to 2 1/2″ deep. Your email address will not be published. We’ll be tapping birch trees this year as well, but it takes many more birches to get the same amount of syrup. The size of the drill bit depends on the size of your tap (also known as a spile). You’ll be glad you did. The dimensions of the drill bit will depend both on the size of the tree and the spout being used to collect sap. The time has come. If the tree has a big “crown” or lots of full and sturdy branches in its mid-section, it might be a great sap producer. The bark on hard maple tree varieties is typically filled with deep and narrow furrows. Me too. As a child I experimented with tapping maple trees in Ontario Canada – usually during the first week of March. • Spouts – some tappers and stores refer to the spouts as spiles. It’s that time of year again, when the sweet sounds of spring fill Bronte Creek Provincial Park : the twittering of returning songbirds, the laughter of visitors strolling through the woods, and the plink! Use this guide to decide which trees to tap and learn about making birch syrup, making walnut syrup, and making sycamore syrup. See more ideas about maple tree, tapping maple trees, maple. When you tap a tree in the spring, it is the equivalent to a human getting a small cut, which will will slowly scar over to stop the loss of bodily fluids. Just when the weather starts the warm, but the ground is still snow covered and cold… that’s the perfect time for tapping trees for sap you can boil into syrup. It is vital to remember that a tree is a living thing, even when it is sleeping all winter long, and that it can (and will) heal itself. Their leaves are either silver or white on the bottom, and boast a more pointy shape than the leaves from hard maple tree varieties. Now that I live up in Canada’s far north – (Northwest Territories), it’s a good month later – April. her homesteading skills are unmatched, she raises chickens, goats, horses, a wide variety of vegetables, not to mention she’s an expert is all sorts of homesteading skills such as hide tanning, doll making, tree tapping and many, many more. Do not pound it, this will split the wood. This warming temps create pressure within the tree, which generates the flow of sap. Maple trees have what we dubbed “helicopters” when growing up. Step 1: Measure the drill bit and wrap a piece of colored tape around it 3 inches from the end. Wasting time is definitely not something homesteaders like to do! How to tap your tree. The most important step in the process of tapping a tree for maple is finding just the right tree. Bags manufactured specifically for tree tapping are gaining popularity with some tappers because they are lightweight and easier to pack when full or during hikes that are either lengthy or over rugged terrain… or both. You could also get a maple tapping starter kit that has all of the specialty things you will need. Simply hang your bucket and lid and move on to the next tree. • If this is your first time tapping a tree for syrup, do not be startled by the color of the fluid running out of the tree. Maple trees grow throughout the U.S., and in various parts of the country, mid-February through mid-March is when their sap starts to flow, making it the perfect time to tap. For trees 21-27″ in diameter, you’ll use two taps. Inspect the shaving churned out while drilling the tapping hole. You’ll want to drill at a slight angle to facilitate the downward flow of sap. Thankfully, you can still purchase aluminum sap buckets and lids on Amazon or even at your local farm store. You’ll want to check your buckets daily and empty any collected sap. Why tap a maple tree? Look for a maple tree that is at least 12 inches in diameter and has a lot of direct sunlight. But, if you didn’t plan in advance, not all hope is lost. Use a hammer to lightly tap the spile into the hole. If the tree shavings have a dark brown hue, you have probably discovered a bad spot in the tree and need to locate the sap collection hole in another location on the same tree. Always clean the tree tapping equipment when you put it away after a season and before tapping during a new season. The hook on the spout should be facing outward. • Rocky Mountain Maple – This tree grows in the region which bears its name. • Sugar – This is the “go to” tree for tapping. Tapping maple trees is relatively straightforward, and it’s an activity the whole family can enjoy. How to Tap a Maple Tree for Syrup & Sugar Production. Of course, like most things, timing is everything with tapping. Jan 16, 2017 - Explore Heather Clower's board "Tapping maple trees", followed by 161 people on Pinterest. It is best to distribute the tapping holes around the tree’s circumference when putting in a new season holes or making multiple tapping holes on a large tree for the first time. Published: December 26, 2019 • Modified: March 20, 2020 • By: Danielle McCoy • As an amazon affiliate I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. You’ll want to locate the trees you plan to use and use the guidelines above for how many taps to put into each tree. The south side of trees generally get the most sun, making them the warmest side, and the side where sap flow will be the best. Buds begin to appear on the Silver Maple tree early in the year, before prime tapping temperatures present and sustain themselves, in many regions. Another option, of course, would be to identify the trees in the summer or fall when the leaves are still on the branches. Hard maple tree varieties like the black, rocky, and sugar maple, typically produce the highest sap content. You can run it through a cheesecloth or similar to remove any impurities that found their way in. Refer to the directions that came with your particular spout or spiles to make sure it is positioned properly. Picking trees with the most exposure to sunlight can also help with the flow of sap. A hammer will do wonders for this task. Whether you have an abundance of trees on your property or find a nice neighbor, it’s definitely worth giving a try to get some delicious, natural sugar. University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Kathy Hopkins discusses the best method to safely tap a maple tree. Red and silver maple trees will also provide sap, but not as much as the other two species. Although syrup is the most common use for sap, in some regions of the world it is brewed into beer or tea and drunk for its nutrient benefits. Tap the SOUTH side of the tree. You’ll need: Cordless Drill and bit. Tapping buckets must have a firm fitting lid. • Use tree tapping pouches like the ones in the photo below to keep debris and other impurities away from your sap. What species of maple tree is it? Insert the spout after cleaning out the drilled hole of all shaving. If you hit dark brown again, it may not be worth your time and effort to try to tap the tree. The goal of Tap My Trees is to promote tapping maple trees by families at … If you have an abundance of trees that you can utilize for tapping, you should absolutely try this rewarding experience. Once you drill your hole, you’ll need to pound your spile into the tree. Don’t drive too hard and don’t tap when the temperature is below freezing to avoid splitting the … It is the combination of the chilly night time temperatures and the warm daytime temperatures that causes the sap to flow both easily and fairly rapidly, from the trees. This will then translate into a small amount of maple syrup per tree. Tapping maple trees can be a fun, rewarding experience. Note: when done properly, tapping won’t harm your tree, and the hole you make will heal up nicely on its own. above photo shows a sugar maple tree leaf. 2. Hard maple varieties begin letting loose of their seeds usually in either the late summer or early autumn. Drill a hole about 1.5 inches into the tree – slightly uphill – so the sap will run down. • The sap must be stored at a temperature of 38F or colder for best results. Anything under 21″ will only take one tap. 7. 10 Essential Crops for a Self Sufficient Garden. Drill a level, horizontal 2’’ deep hole at a convenient height. • Paper Birch – This type of birch tree has a 1% sugar count and is among a favorite for tappers who expand their efforts beyond the maple variety. Trees are best tapped when the temperature is warm during the day and cold at night. No maple trees on your homestead? These trees could be defined as the most generous trees of all, in terms of sap production and sugar release. Never tap a maple tree that is smaller than 10 inches/25 cm in diameter. Typically, the sap flows best with these fluctuations in temperature. Trimming maple trees involves pruning out diseased or broken branches at least 6 inches into healthy wood. If you have an abundance of trees that you can utilize for tapping, you should absolutely try this rewarding experience. It’s got electrolytes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The exact time to start and stop tapping trees for maple syrup depends largely on where you live. Native American tribes who lived in this region often tapped the Big Leaf Maple tree for syrup and sugar making purposes. If it’s light brown or beige, the tree is most likely healthy and you have selected a good spot to garner sap. For any tree 27″ or larger in diameter, it will take three. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) The sugar maple yields the highest volume and concentration of sap, making it a superior candidate for tapping. Soft maple varieties tend to drop their seeds in either the early days of summer, or the final weeks of spring. The height of your spile should be comfortable for you. • Sap Hydrometer – These optional gadgets are handy to have if you are interested in learning the sugar content in your sap before cooking it. For trees 12-20″ in diameter, you’ll use one spile each. These are, of course, to capture the sap. This will vary wildly depending on the tree, but typically each tree will produce anywhere from 5 to 15 gallons of sap per tap, per season. The seedlings growing on them not only resemble the propellers of a helicopter, but “fly” away from the tree and start to grow just about everywhere they land. Sugaring season used to be a tradition. This site may earn commissions when you click on certain links. We don’t like plastic. To make the hole through which sap will flow, you’ll need a drill. You’ll be mighty disappointed if you don’t have a way to hang them. Basically what we’re using is just this orange actually it’s red bailing twine and we’re just going to take it and we’re going to identify a maple tree. The tell-tale sign that it’s time for tapping is when the daytime temps rise above freezing, but the nighttime temps dip back down below freezing. Want to branch out from maple? Make sure the tree is on your property! Are you looking for a group of like-minded people that love the heritage way of life?? If you’ve tapped the tree in previous years, do not tap within 6″ of the previous holes. The sweetest and best sap is usually produced during the early days and weeks of the season. In the fall, you probably ooh and aah at the beautiful red, orange, and yellow shades the leaves from these trees turn each October. You might be hiking out to your trees up to your ankles in mud with rain pouring heavily upon your shoulders, but the sap buckets must be check and poured into a storage container. Drink sap straight from the maple. 2. Spiles. Even birch and walnut will provide you with plenty of sweet, flavorful sap that you can boil down. The trees closely resemble sugar maples and can be distinguished by their leaves. A strong and healthy tree can be tapped multiple times over several seasons. If a tree is under 12″ in diameter, do not tap it. • For best results, use or process the sap within one week of collection. 3. © 2020 New Life On A Homestead | Homesteading Blog, Delicious Crack Chicken Recipe in Pressure Cooker. The sap turned into syrup from this tree is typically deemed just as sweet as the sap created by the Sugar Maple tree – and there is usually about twice as much of it. 4. The differences are subtle, and the species has less to do with the … Use a hammer or rubber mallet to tap, gently now, the spout into the hold to secure it into place. This variety of maple tree does not produce as much sap as the Sugar Maple, but is often considered just as sweet. For the safest type of consumption, always boil the sap to destroy any bad bacteria that could be growing inside. • Silver – Although not ideal for tapping, the Silver Maple tree can be tapped. Each produces a syrup with a slightly different flavor profile. If you’re placing more than one, you’ll want to divide them around the circumference of the tree. If you delay and let the sap sit in a bucket overnight it will likely freeze and have to be pitched. And if the shavings are a dark brown when you drill into it, pick a different spot (the shavings should be light brown). Many tappers simply make their own simple hooks to hang the sap collection buckets or bags upon or use a spout that comes with a hook attached for the bucket. The amount of sap that flows from this variety of walnut tree is also often comparable to the yield from the Sugar Maple tree. Sap will flow from this tree only when evening temperatures are firmly below the freezing level for at least one week. Hopefully, its Acer saccharum (sugar maple), if not you’ll need even more sap. • Big Tooth Maple – This sap producing maple tree grows primarily in the Rocky Mountains region and in Texas. Make each cut just above a lateral branch that is at least 1/3 the diameter of the cut stem. The Sugar Maple grows in significant numbers in USDA zones 4 through 8. Drill the tapping hole. The tree should be at least 10 inches in diameter before it can be tapped. Using a single tap could overtax the tree and could affect its health. You tap maple trees in the spring when the temperatures are getting warmer. How to tap a maple tree This blog comes from Cathy Entwhistle, a Senior Park Interpreter at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. But, the most common trees used are sugar maples. If it’s a little more narrow, that’s ok, too. You’ll want to check your buckets daily and empty any collected sap. • Holder or Hooks – Holders are sold to hang either buckets or bags and purchased by some tree tappers. Whether you have 10 trees or 10,000 the process is basically the same: tap your trees, collect the sap, and boil it down until it’s reduced down to maple syrup. When the tree being tapped is between 20 to 27 inches in diameter, you may need to use two taps to capture all of the sap. Hammer. How to Tap Maple Trees. But this will depend a lot on where you live. Join The Self Sufficient Life group here. For every increase of 2″ in diameter, you can add another tap. You have to check the buckets and collect the sap daily – no matter how busy you are or what the weather is like outdoors. Sugar maple growth rate of course varies depending on many factors, especially on spring and summertime growing conditions. Drill a hole about 1-1/2″ – 2″ into the tree at an slight upward angle. Spiles are necessary for channeling sap out of the tree and into the bucket You’ve got your trees identified, the weather is right, and you’ve gathered your supplies. I’m Danielle. This task is fairly easy. That means you’re going to need some supplies. Maple trees with a lower sap content, like the silver or red varieties, typically take longer to bring to a boil – a crucial part of the syrup creation process. Maple trees that give the most sap are of the sugar or black variety. This doesn’t require anything fancy, just a few things and you’ll have sap flowing. Hold the drill and drill bit at a slight angle, pointing upwards. Most tappers recommend drilling the tapping hole on the southern facing side of the tree, beneath a large branch. If the tree has damage, avoid those spots. Any kind of maple tree can be tapped, but the best sap comes from sugar maples, tapped in spring. Find a maple tree. How to Tap Trees Drill a hole in a tree, 2 - 4 feet above the ground. Between the middle of February through mid-March mallet to tap a maple tree does not look all that different! Got your trees identified, the sap stops flowing and then you run! Sap collection and making Sycamore syrup overnight it will take three • use tree tapping equipment when you start,... Fellow homesteaders… tree tapping pouches like the ones in the spring when the temperature is warm during day! Is over maple tree for sugar and syrup produced from this maple tree ( saccharum! Brown again, fellow how to tap a maple tree tree tapping pouches like the ones in the spring the. 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