Giving trees a year off?

[obi96]

Hello all, in my massive 25 tap operation I don't have a lot of options for expansion. In ten years of making syrup, the trees I use have held up pretty well with a total average of 2.5 - 3 gallons of medium amber a year, enough for our needs and a big neighborhood breakfast at the end of the season.
So a couple of questions for the forum; Is taking a year off beneficial to increased sap flow? This year really has me considering it. Also, as long as I'm drilling white wood, does it matter how many old holes are in the tree? all trees used are 16"-28" in diameter. Thanks.

[happy thoughts]

I don't know that taking a year off will make much difference. I'm sure Dr Tim will chime in if he sees this. If you're worried I'd be sure to follow the latest tapping guidelines for depth and spacing. If you haven't already done so, I'd switch to the smaller diameter tree saver spiles which heal over faster and cause less internal damage.

[Galena]

I also have a microbush. Yes I typed that with a straight face :) In the first few years I tapped, I did try to rotate, as much as possible, through my 8 tappable trees (they are all big mature 3-spilers)...First couple of years, I only tapped two trees, then two different trees, and so on. But since 2013 have settled on 6 trees, and now put in my 18 spiles each year in those same 6 trees. I also am somewhat OCD and keep a daily log as to how much sap I get from each tree, each day. That makes it much easier to track flow and anticipate when to brace for a big run.

In terms of the *health* spiles...yes, they leave a smaller hole. But some of my trees are slow to close up holes of any size, from even 4 years ago, while others close up easily within 1-2 years. In those trees, the health spile hole from last year's disastrous experiment are just as slow to close. I watch each tree like a hawk all year round and note how healthy the tree is, is the canopy nice and full, is it showing any sign of infection or weakening, and if anything, the trees I tap with the big ol 7/16ths are in much better health than the trees I DON'T tap!!!!! But, if you can drill holes for those weeny little health spiles just right, so that they actually stay in and don't just fall out of the tree (as they all did last year when I tried them) go for it!

[obi96]

I feel better now. I have switched to the smaller spiles, in fact, being "thrifty" I couldn't quite bring myself to pay $3.50 a piece for the smaller metal kind, I bought 25 clear pipeline spiles, passed them through the hole in each bucket and nailed them home. To gather the sap, I bring an empty 2 gallon bucket and turn the bucket on the tree to pour into the empty transfer bucket, then into the 45 gal trash can sap hauler. I haven't lost a bucket to wind this season, and we get some big winds here in Underhill. Though I don't know exactly what I get from each tree, I do know the better sap producers, some smaller ones out preform the bigger ones. I'm off to a great start, but the lack of snow to cool the sap and my full time job make me worried this may be one of my shortest seasons yet. Thanks for your comments.