Will tapping the north side prolong flow?

[tberryer]

This is my third year tapping and I unfortunately only put them in late last week... always on the south side. It seems we've ended our freezing nights in the foreseeable future. I'm hoping for a really great run today after not much these last few days and am wondering if I put my taps on the north side of the tree, will that extend our runs for a couple more days while it thaws.... or does it have to freeze to cause that. I did read that the north side can be about 20 or more degrees cooler than the south, so I'm hopeful, but want to know what you think.

[DuncanFTGC/SS]

This year I put in 50 taps, on untapped trees. I alternated each tree north or south in order to see if it averages out, and to extend my tapping? Next year I will move each tap clockwise around the tree. I did have some of the trees flowing, as I was drilling, on the north side. All of them on the south side were dripping before I got the spile in.

[Snappyssweets]

Not sure myself. What I can state is the south side does get more sun and tends to begin running earlier then my north side taps on my trees. However something I have paid closer attention to this year is my east or west taps. The east sides tend to run less then the west sides.

I am thinking its because as it warms in the morning it takes longer to get warm This I am surmising acts as a delay in the run for the day beginning as it begins to warm. While the West side taps are not usually getting going on a cold night until after 10 AM. Which they also tend to run well beyond sundown and into the night. Extending my run more then I would get off the east side as it tends to start later then first thing in the morning sometimes not until 10 AM also yet it ends by six PM when the sun no longer is on the exposed part of the tree it slows and you can see it slow between 2 PM and 6 PM.

[DrTimPerkins]

1. Don't drill new holes in trees the same year that you've already tapped unless they are large enough to support two tapholes according to your local tapping guidelines. Doing so will double the amount of internal damage, which is not good for the tree.

2. Tapholes should ALWAYS be spread around the entire tapping band of the tree over time. You should NEVER tap just on the north, or just on the south, or just under a large branch or over a large root. It is better to spread the damage around to avoid cluster tapping.

3. In general, tapping on the south will produce more sap in the early season, but these will dry out first. Tapholes on the north may not start running as early, but tend to run a bit later in the season. OVERALL however, the sap yield tends to average out about the same for tapholes drilled on the N, S, E, or W of the tree. It is only in SOME seasons that one side might do better than another, and given that it is pretty much unpredictable what any one season will be like, it is not possible to pick which side to tap on in advance. So again, the best chances of optimizing your crop is to always spread your taps around across all directions within the tapping band.

[Snappyssweets]

Thanks Dr Tim
Its always nice to get input from knowledge based individuals unlike me who is more or less in a dark closet stabbing through the bottom hoping to hit something.

[tberryer]

Thank you all! and Dr. Tim, thank you for that information and teaching me something to protect my trees! I really was thinking about moving the taps, but will just have to suffer with less syrup this year because of my procrastination. I love educating others about tapping trees as well, so you have helped me a great deal. Blessings!

[woodey24]

Dr Tim, Looking to next year how far should we put the new tap from the one from this year? what about height of the tap? Move it lower or higher too? How many years before you can tap close to a used hole? I am sure these are elementary questions. Just would like to keep the trees healthy for years to come. Thank you for adding a great depth of knowledge to the forum, thousands of trees probably thank you for saving them from the hackers.

[DrTimPerkins]

Looking to next year how far should we put the new tap from the one from this year? what about height of the tap? Move it lower or higher too? How many years before you can tap close to a used hole?

If you're on gravity, you only need to be a few inches laterally and 6-12" higher or lower than an old taphole. On vacuum, better to go twice that if possible.

Some people advocate pattern tapping. I personally don't care for it, but if it helps you keep track of where to put the taphole, then do it.

As far as how long before you can put a taphole in the same area.....it depends upon the growth rate of the tree and how deep you're drilling your tapholes. If your growth is 1/10"/yr and your tapholes are 2" deep, then you'll need at least 20 yrs before you can tap in that spot again. Best way to avoid hitting old wood is to use drop lines that are long enough (30"+) and utilize the full tapping band that length gets you. Inspect your drill shavings every now and then to see if you're hitting brown wood. If you are, then that's another story.

[BobMac]

What helps me remember where the years previous tap holes are is a
quick burst of white spray paint above the hole .may not be the best way
buts works year to year, i go around the tree in circle higher one year lower the next

[DrTimPerkins]

quick burst of white spray paint above the hole .

Not possible if you're organic-certified.