tapping a tree with many trunks

[For_the_kids]

Hi, I'm wondering if there are guide lines to tapping a tree with many trunks. we have a large silver maple that splits off into 6 trunks at only about 12-16 inches off the ground. All the trunks are 10" or larger and I'm wondering if I can/should tap each trunk with one tap or it I have to limit it to picking only two or three? Thanks

[Snappyssweets]

Its still the same root system your collecting it from. Thus 2-3 with the usual of bucket or line.
I confess using 3/16 gravity lines to a bucket. I would probably do each one. But that is me and I have a wood lot so that tree would not be an important one to me if it died anyhow and if it produced well and lived all the better.

Clump trees I try to treat differently I consider them a cull tree. However if you reside in a residential area and consider it a beautiful shade tree than it has a different purpose to you. So truth be told it is all in your perception and use of the tree. Hope that helps out some with your decision.

[Sugarbush Ridge]

I would go with 1 tap in each trunk 10" and up. You get a bonus of 6 buckets at one stop

[n8hutch]

I too would tap each trunk, pretty good chance that the tree will die eventually they tend to rott from the center and die before they get too big. Although that may be a somewhat poor/negative way of looking at it or managing your timber it just seems to be what happens eventually.

[DASH]

I have a tree like the one you describe in my woods, it gives very little sap I don't even tap it anymore. I hope you have better luck.

DASH

[Jacob]

I have the same problem as Dash I tapped all my neighbors trees and I thought that this huge tree with many trunks I would get a lot of sap but virtually nothing I will not tap it next year

[For_the_kids]

Thanks for the info. I think I will just let it pass. I have plenty of other trees that are producing well.

[Run Forest Run!]

You've got nothing to lose, so I'd tap it. I have a silver that's a "three-banger". It runs like a stuck pig every year and always gives me 2-3% sugar content. I got 3/4 gallon from each spile today.

[Cedar Eater]

I tap a lot of clump red maples and put them on natural vacuum. I tap every stem that's bigger than 10". Each stem produces as well as its individual crown dictates and their crowns are often not that good because their competitors are so close. But some do really great and some are not that great. When trying to get enough sap to get good natural vacuum, they are contributors and that makes them worth tapping.