Tree size and tapping

[RC Maple]

I am inclined to go with the advice to not tap trees under 10". I did go to a county park district maple sugarin' day where I was told that 18" circumferance is the minimum size for tapping (about 6"). I've also had a long time syrup producer tell me they didn't need to be 10". I don't have any trees of my own over 9.5 " and few others over that easily accessible. Should I tap smaller trees?

[CBOYER]

In Quebec, they reccomend minimum 8" di (24" circ.), you could tap under, but the wounds around your trees will reduce number of years you could have good results.

[3rdgen.maple]

Dont stick 7/16 taps in them go with the 5/16 and you should be fine with sticking around the 10 inch mark. Just make sure you dont just tap one height all the way around the trees. Say put a tap in the following year at the same height next to the old tap. Go higher go lower go to the opposite side as previous year etc. I have enough trees that the smaller 10's I skip a year on them.

[Thad Blaisdell]

Dont stick 7/16 taps in them go with the 5/16 and you should be fine with sticking around the 10 inch mark. Just make sure you dont just tap one height all the way around the trees. Say put a tap in the following year at the same height next to the old tap. Go higher go lower go to the opposite side as previous year etc. I have enough trees that the smaller 10's I skip a year on them.

My thoughts exactly.

A 6" tree will almost be completely healed over the next year.

[jmayerl]

I have heard the 10" size comming out of everyones mouth but, after going to a tubing seminar and hearing cdl's rep this isnt always practical. If growing conditions are not ideal a tree could be well over 50 years old, yet only 7" in diameter. If you wait til it gets to be 10" it will be rotting from the inside and 2095. Also, I laughed at my buddy when I went to his house and he had a 5.5" tree tapped. it was the 5th year he did and I didnt see any other wounds on it. He said it was one of his best trees for volume and sugar content. Now thats a little small for me but just thought I would past it along.

[red maples]

What I have found is that it all depends on who you talk to.

Some say a conservative 12" others 10" and other go smaller.

My thoughts are approx 10" if my hand spread out is a little smaller than the diameter of the tree it gets a tap. if I have a tree thats 1/2 inch under I am not that picky. Now I do have a few smaller trees a few 7-8 inchers but they will eventually get thinned out. when will I get to that section of woods who knows could be next year could be 3 years. I only really take down what I need to burn for a season. so I will get to them sooner or later.


couple things with taping a smaller tree.

1. the future of the sugar bush...you wanna have the trees be as healthy as possible for as long as possibletapping a small tree puts alot of unnatural stress on the tree, and uses up sap wood on a tree that already doesn't really have that much beside what nature/sap suckers bugs and wood peckers do to it.

2. Low sugar, a smaller tree will have lower sugar content to the sap which means more boiling time and more wood or oil used. but thats up to you.

I personally would say approx 10 " and your all set.

my 10 cents...inflation sucks!!!:)