Massive Maple tree taps

[ehausinfrats]

Ok,
I know the rule is no more than 3 taps per tree on a 2 ft diameter. I have 3 trees that are 5-6 foot diameter. Gravity to buckets

Let me know what you think about going more than 3 if you have a similar instance.

Thanks

Eric

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

You could put at least 4 taps in a tree that size with no problem. I have 3' diameter trees but have not seen any that big.

[maple flats]

Has this tree been tapped regularly in recent years? The problem on huge trees is that they do not grow very fast. You could tap more but in a few years you would run out of new wood to tap. They do not add more as fast anymore. As for taking too much sap, they have lots more than we ever take unless you go way overboard.

[ehausinfrats]

I just starting tapping them last year. Another guy did a five years ago once.
I will look for the 4 tap holes I put in last year and see how they are healing.

Thanks for the advise.

Eric

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

You could put 8 to 10 taps on a 6' diameter tree for 50 years and not run out of wood to tap in.

[bobbyjake]

If you own them, you can put 30 in them. If not, think about the ramifications...

Crown health?

Big trees like that are likely dead in the middle. Also, internal tree pressure drives sap flow. The more holes you poke in it, the less tree pressure, the less sap per hole. You might get 1 gallon out of each hole with 3 taps and only 0.75 gallons per hole out of 4 holes. Same three gallons and you have one less hole to drill, bucket to dump, tap to pull and wash.

[220 maple]

There is trees at a camp near me that have been over tapped for many years, because of all the scaring and healing they have bulge rings, from knee height to head height they are larger than anywhere else on the tree trunk. I believe its the worst case of over tapping that I have seen in my travels to sugar camps. They always put in more than 4 taps on large trees and and drill 2.5 inches with 7/16ths spiles.

Mark 220 Maple

[3rdgen.maple]

Well oldschool way was a tap for every 12 inches here. I have some big maples as well that he put 6 taps in every year. They are definatley showing their age. Trees that size are real old. I figured it out once and between the 3 generations we have tapped those same trees for 100 years. Not until I took over and bought the place 3 years ago I went to 3 taps.

[kiegscustoms]

3 taps per 12 "? Sorry, missed the part about 6 taps in the big ones.

[3rdgen.maple]

lol no 1 tap per 12 inches. When i said he i meant my grandfather. i definately dont recomend that many in any tree.

[kiegscustoms]

note my reason for editing! 1 Per 12" is safe

[Flat47]

I want to see pictures of these trees. 5 feet in diameter??? Measured at breast height?