Best management practices to achieve high sap yields when tapping maple trees.
Пікірлер: 53
@halfasshuntingclub53302 жыл бұрын
Great video!!!! I’m in my 3rd year of syrup making and this helps me for next year! Thank you!!!!
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it.
@EarthOccult8 ай бұрын
Excellent video, very informative. Good job!
@charlierich98403 жыл бұрын
The best tool for pulling spouts is a spout puller 👍
@elizabethdonnelly12042 жыл бұрын
Right LOL
@stevecarr7338 Жыл бұрын
and the best tool to remove a tooth is a tooth puller
@gimmedataids Жыл бұрын
They make a tool for everything, huh? I think I could find 10 things in my house that are suitable for pulling a shallow tap out of a tree
@OHBuckNow Жыл бұрын
Thank you.
@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14 Жыл бұрын
Good info, thanks! This is my first year trying this, with 2 taps in 5 trees. Only issue is that I'm in Charlotte, which is typically a Zone 8A, so I'm not certain how much the sap will run here, but it's more of an experiment than anything else. I'm also tapping silver maples, so there is a bit less sugar in the sap. My confusion is when to tap here, as the buds usually come out in mid-January, so I'm trying it now, in December. Wish me luck!
@donsylvester52753 жыл бұрын
Hello UVM Maple. I've tapped 4 trees at my home here in Ottawa, Ontario on and off for 20 years. We get about 2 - 4 liters of syrup ... boiling it down in a turkey fryer pot on the drive and finishing it to ~ 220 F on the stove. It's just a fun spring thing and I'm gonna do it this Pandemic year. Question: I'd never want to endanger my trees ... how many taps can I put into a tree? Is there a diameter formula you'd recommend?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
If you're using 7/16" spouts, 1 tap for trees 12-18" diameter at breast height (54" above ground) and 2 taps above 18" diameter. If you're using 5/16" spouts, 1 tap from 9"-18" and two above 18". This assumes trees are healthy and growing well.
@sonnet1072 жыл бұрын
What about plugging the hole after you pull out the spout so that bugs/disease are less easily introduced to the tree? Is this recommended for better tree health?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 жыл бұрын
Plugging of tapholes is not a recommended practice and can impede the healing process and impair tree health. The tree can compartmentalize the wound without interference. Plugging actually increases the possibility of rot problems and delays healing. Trees are well adapted to dealing with wounds.
@gregorymosher50083 жыл бұрын
What size drill bit should I use for a standard steel spike?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
It depends upon the spout size. Most metal spouts are either 7/16" (large) or 5/16" (small). A drill bit made for maple tapping is recommended.
@wettengel3 жыл бұрын
Is there a recommended height above the ground? Any thoughts on plastic spiles versus metal?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
Height is wherever convenient. On buckets, typically waist high, but vary from year-to-year to avoid old taphole stain. With tubing, height is less important, but from lateral line generally to as high as one can comfortably reach, again, avoiding old tapped areas. With good vacuum, droplines can extend downward below the lateral line in order to reach good wood.
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
As far as plastic vs metal, both are fine, however many producers replace plastic spouts each year to achieve good sanitation. If metal or plastic and reused each year, clean them thoroughly each year, soak in a mild bleach solution for 5-10 min (not longer), then rinse well.
@eranorion Жыл бұрын
@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter I boil my ancient metal spiles every season, and then keep them grouped in specific sealed containers until I use them, being careful not to touch the part that goes into the tree when installing, so as not to infect them with my microbiome to spread to the tree. Am I being overly cautious?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter Жыл бұрын
@@eranorion No, you're not being overly cautious. The cleaner you can keep the spouts before tapping the better.
@AndTheWestBegins2 жыл бұрын
Great video! What's the rationale for tapping as far from the previous year's taphole as possible? Is it not better to go in a circle?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 жыл бұрын
It is important to not have the internal wounds (compartments) touch. If they do intersect, the wound will not be two times the size of a regular taphole, but considerably larger, since they will merge and create a bigger internal wound. The exact distance well known, but it should be at least several inches to the side and 6-12 inches vertically (up or down). In addition, taphole staining is not perfectly straight up/down since wood grain has a slight twist.
@ajinterpreter735 ай бұрын
❤
@JesusSaves86AB3 жыл бұрын
I'm guessing that tapping on the south facing side of the tree was prefered to reduce mold and pests via optimal sunlight exposure.
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
Tapping on the south face was most likely because that side thaws faster when the sun comes out. However tapholes on the south side "dry out" faster than those on the north. Over time, the average sap flow from N and S side are the same.
@AzimuthTao Жыл бұрын
Is there a best time to begin tapping? I know it is recommended that the temperature must drop below freezing and then warm up the next day but if that happens in October, is that too early?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter Жыл бұрын
Yes, that is likely far too early. You want to capture the most sap flow periods in the spring, understanding that once tapholes are drilled, they start to degrade due to microbial contamination (termed "taphole drying"). Where are you located?
@Gilmore3048 ай бұрын
So for WV, what is the best time of year to tap ?
@bovinejonie37452 ай бұрын
Would you plug the wound to keep out bugs, or leave open it to heal on its own?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 ай бұрын
Tapholes should not be plugged, but rather should be left open for the tree to heal naturally. A plug that is inserted will soak up water and rot, causing more damage than if the wound is left unplugged. The tree will close the wound by growing new wood on the outside within a season or two.
@bovinejonie37452 ай бұрын
@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter Thank you so much!
@Manuelabor1978 Жыл бұрын
I'm a city boy. This looks interesting
@chuckpatch1230 Жыл бұрын
where might one get the taps and drills from ?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter Жыл бұрын
Any maple equipment supplier. Where are you located?
@stevecarr7338 Жыл бұрын
Canadian Tire
@deenichols4912 жыл бұрын
This is new to me when is the best time to tap?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 жыл бұрын
Tap when daytime temps are forecast to get into at least the upper 30s (deg F) and nights are still below freezing. Sap will run when the trees thaw out, and water will be taken up from the soil during the start of a freeze. Sap will not run when temps remain below freezing and will stop dripping sap after a few days until the tree is recharged by a freeze period.
@clayjones5532 жыл бұрын
How do you identify stained wood?
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter2 жыл бұрын
Catch the drill shavings in your hand, or look at them in the snow. Good conductive wood is white or light-cream color. Stained wood is tan-brown.
@clayjones5532 жыл бұрын
@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter thanks!
@raymondcovey64613 жыл бұрын
Everyone a expert lol would live to hear some old vermonter comments!
@ThirdLawPair3 жыл бұрын
Folk wisdom has no value
@JesusSaves86AB3 жыл бұрын
@@ThirdLawPair Such ignorance reeks of youth.
@randyspicer55503 жыл бұрын
If from Vermont makes one a expert ?
@ThirdLawPair3 жыл бұрын
@@JesusSaves86AB no, it's something I've learned as I've gotten older. Opinions based on experience are categorically inferior to opinions based on science.
@nikolassilva85292 жыл бұрын
I’m gonna tap everywhere 😅
@andregrondin12043 жыл бұрын
very informative video , but the usage of a hammer is not recommended . wood or plastic mallet is way better .
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
That is correct. For tapping in our research operation, we always use a tapping hammer. These can be wood, plastic, or metal. It is the weight of the hammer that is important.
@EdithWiethorn3 жыл бұрын
Your instruction on using tubing to set depth is too vague & quick. ??? Your video IS addressing inexperienced would-be tappers. Your narration voices are very good: courteous,
@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter3 жыл бұрын
If you are using 5/16" spouts and a 5/16" drill bit, cut a piece of standard 5/16" tubing and slide it over the drill bit, leaving 2" of the bit open. Unfortunately we cannot go into a great deal of depth on topics in order to keep the videos to a reasonable length. Most of the recommendations on the "Keys to High Sap Yield" are for relatively experienced maple producers using vacuum tubing methods.
@229glock2 жыл бұрын
God, this is Dummy version of "Tapping a maple tree for Dummies"