Tapping the same trees every year?

[odave]

Here's a newbie question. I've been watching some YouTube videos about sugaring and one guy was saying he doesn't like to tap the same tree in back to back years. Is this a good practice? I'm a backyard hobbyist with only 7 maples, and if I have to stagger them every other year it will put a damper on my output.

[RC Maple]

Odave - welcome to your new hobby. I know people too that try and tap trees only every other year. That's great if you have the trees and are using buckets. I'm sure though that the many people on this site with tubing run through their woods and expensive vacuum systems for collecting sap that are tapping the same trees every year. There are some here that have been tapping the same trees for generations. If you follow good tapping guidelines you should be able to use the same trees every year. For those guidelines you could search threads here or see the Maple Syrup Producers Manual.

[maple flats]

That makes no sense. If they are at least 10" diameter at chest high and are healthy, there is no reason to skip every other year.
Be very careful when watching U-tube "experts". It seems everyone who has a video camera suddenly becomes an expert. I have seen many who are totally wrong in their presentation. At the same time, there are likely more who are good. The problem for those trying to learn from them is deciding which are right and which are not.
The industry norm is to tap every healthy tree of proper size every year. The tapping guidelines are designed to give you continuous tapping on your trees . The exception would be if you get a defoliation in a growing season such as a forest tent caterpiller infestation. Even then, if the trees re-foliate that year soon enough they may be tapped the following year, but I would take a year off.
There are good places to get the necessary info but u-tube can at times steer you wrong.
This site is real good, your cooperative extension is good, info from Cornell and Proctor are excellent sources. There are books that help a lot, such as "The North American Maple Syrup Producer's Manual", "Backyard Sugaring" and I just bought a new one yesterday that so far I have only skimmed it, but it looks good, It is "The Sugarmaker's Companion" by Dr. Michael Farrell who is the director of Uihlein Forest, the Cornell Maple Research and Extension Field Station at Lake Placid, NY.

[1arch]

I agree with Dave that skipping a year offers no advantage. In my personal opinion the small 5/16 hole creates a limited amount of stress on the tree in comparison to what nature delves out in fallen limbs stripping sections of bark and critters searching for their nutritional needs.... Ive noticed at times a few of the trees in our bush rain and drisel so much sap I wonder how any makes it to my bucket.

[odave]

Thanks, guys - good to know.