kipegan
01-14-2017, 07:23 AM
I'm running an experiment this year in the suburbs of Detroit. I started tapping 45 of my my trees on December 25 th. I have 300 maples on 6 acres with a swamp on the southwest part of my land and a lake in the southeast part. There is a hill with a 45 foot elevation change from the lake up to the "plateau" up top. the trees by the lake and the swamp are putting out 2-4 gallons per day at 1% sugar when temperatures rise above 45 degrees. I m allowing the sap to freeze each night for 2 nights and discarding the ice each morning. Sugar content after two freeze cycles is 5 %.
Needless to say boiling is a joy at 5%.
Five unique circumstances:
1) I think the lake and swamp are keeping the roots moist and warm which is helping
2) Most of these trees are 100 year old monsters with enormous canopies
3) Many of the taps were dry, I just kept tapping until I hit a running one
4) Sun exposure has been excellent
5) And weather has been favorable
Weather
historic
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/48304:4:US
10 day
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/48304:4:US
Needless to say boiling is a joy at 5%.
Five unique circumstances:
1) I think the lake and swamp are keeping the roots moist and warm which is helping
2) Most of these trees are 100 year old monsters with enormous canopies
3) Many of the taps were dry, I just kept tapping until I hit a running one
4) Sun exposure has been excellent
5) And weather has been favorable
Weather
historic
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/48304:4:US
10 day
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/48304:4:US