Ideas on why there's no sap

[djhemme]

I have a situation that I’m looking for some input on. I have two Silver Maples that I’ve attempted twice to tap now- once last year, and then I wanted to try a fall tap this year and figured these trees would work as guinea pigs since I won’t be using them for the coming season. They’re special to me because I planted them from seeds about 30 years ago and I thought it would be neat to say I saw them from seed to syrup. They’re both about 20” in diameter and healthy, but both times I’ve tapped them they’ve been bone dry- not even moisture in the hole when I drilled, in the shavings that came out, or in the hole when I finally gave up. Last year I tapped them late in the season, but they had two weeks of great weather where other trees I’d tapped were flowing well, and this fall there’s been a few days already of mid 20s at night and above 40 during the day (it hit 52 degrees today). I’ve been tapping trees for three years now and haven’t had a tree not produce any sap, so I don’t think there’s any issue in what I’m doing. (I know Silver Maples can be a little finnicky, but I have another large Silver Maple that I got 30 gallons of sap from last year). I drilled in 2” on the north and south side of these trees, and the temperatures have been right to at least see a trickle. These trees are stand-alone trees so they’re not shaded by any others. I know it’s about tree temp, and not necessarily air temp, but with it being sunny and 50s today with no snow it should be safe to say it’s warm enough. They’re gravity-fed into buckets. Any ideas on why both of these trees are not producing any sap would be greatly appreciated. To summarize my troubleshooting:
-They are confirmed Silver Maples (20” dia)
-Both times weather has been low-mid 20s at night and at least 40 during the day for multiple days
-I drilled 2” deep on both the north and south sides of the trees
-I’ve put out 30 taps a year for the past 3 years (which I know isn’t a lot) but I say this to let you know this isn’t my first time

[DRoseum]

A wise sugar maker once told me "trees are like people, some produce and some do not".

[maple flats]

djhenme, Often silvers and reds need vacuum to get sap flow, try a small diaphragm pump, maybe run on a 12V deep cycle battery and run a loop from the pressure side of the pump back to the inlet or suction side. Diaphragm pumps need to keep the diaphragm wet in order for them to attain good vacuum. A small pump like an RV water pump will work. I'll look up a possibility and link it in this post. Here's one idea, check around you will find others https://www.amazon.com/IEIK-Pressure-Diaphragm-Agricultural-Spraying/dp/B072XLZX72/ref=sr_1_6?adgrpid=1345802802517406&hvadid=84112747073352&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=59638&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84113031065843%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=9466_10855405&keywords=12v%2Bdiaphragm%2Bwater%2Bpump&qid=1702001146&sr=8-6&th=1

[fred]

weather here is not ideal for fall tapping and i would only tap hard maples this time of year. Theres not been a cold snap enough to kick start anything.

[buckeye gold]

I agree with others that neither the weather or the trees have been right. Your second sentence explained everything to me, "I have two silver Maples" . I understand your sentimental mission, but I wouldn't even bother with a silver maple, myself. If that's all I had maybe I would. I have fall tapped for years and reds are very sporadic in the fall, and I imagine silvers are worse. Like Fred said, stick to sugar Maples for fall. I think we have had a couple of good freezes and some sap should be running, but it's still early. I have been playing with fall tapping for 10 plus years and anything before the 20th of December has been futile for me in south central Ohio. I usually put my fall taps out just after Christmas and do pretty well.

[djhemme]

Thank you all for your input. Maybe I'll try again another year.

[Andy VT]

I feel like fall tapping is sort of like drinking whiskey in the morning. Should taste just as good but just doesn't feel right. Friends don't let friends do it.

(posting this only for chuckles)