Tap Height for buckets-does it matter?

[gomish]

Does the tap height for buckets matter? I want to tap new trees about 18" above ground, just enough for the bucket to clear the ground. Will sap flow be any different as opposed to, say 5 foot above the ground???

[Father & Son]

18" might be alittle low just for the ease of handling. The best way I found is to tap at waist level. That way you don't have to bend over or reach up for your bucket.

Jim

[walkerpa]

18 is a little low. If we get anymore snow your buckets will need dug out.

[Ausable]

Hi - Yep - 18" does seem a little low. Last year I was standing on 24" plus snow when I tapped. This year, in my area, we had an easy Winter - so far and only about 3" to 4" of snow to walk around on. Of course if You are on hilly terrain and running tubing it might make sense on some of your trees - each case is different... Hey - best of luck this year --- Mike

[mitchellbob]

hey i always go around 3 to 5feet high.good luck

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

My bush has been tapped in excess of 150 years. Whenever we had a year with little snow, I tapped as low as possible to get the taps in wood that wasn't in the traditional belt. This helped to insure good healthy, productive wood was being tapped. Now that we are almost all tubing, I use the opposite approach, tapping some of those old girls at 6 feet high.

[davey]

if you have little kids, tap so they can see into the buckets, otherwise tap at a level that is comfortable for you.