Roadside maples pruned by utility co.

[Biz]

So the utility company came through a few weeks ago and pruned a few of my young roadside maples. Some just became tapable within the last 2 years, about 12" diameter. They have decent crowns, and pruning took maybe 10-15% of the branches off. Will the trees be OK to tap next spring, or should I wait a year until they recover? When we had the infamous ice storm a few years ago, I cut back on tapping any tree that had significant damage, so that it wouldn't be weakened any further. But I don't know f that was necessary. Any advice appreciated.

Dave

[Drew Pond Maple]

If it's only a few trees, why not give them a year to recover. The loss of sap probably wouldnt be that significant.
Or just catch the sap that comes out of the limbs they cut off with a 5 gallon bucket

[BreezyHill]

Dave since you said "few trees", I would let them rest. When I have done this for ice damaged or wind damaged trees they seem to be fine. I killed two that had been wind damaged that I didn't realize. It may have been to much damage and they would have been done any way but maybe just to much stress. The loss of one season is nothing compared to the loss of a tree.

Two years since 1971 we have not tapped due to Gypsy Moths and one was the Ice storm. One bush of 10 acres was leveled with trees every direction and intertwined. The others just lost a few branches in each tree top. The year after they seemed just fine.

[Biz]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I will let the small trees rest for the year.

Dave