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I tapped my trees on the 1st and 2nd of March, today is the 6th of April. Season is off to a slow and strange start. I've never seen a season like this before. I'm wondering about holes closing up and the need to re-drill. If so do I drill new holes or re-drill the old holes ?? Will being drill for 4+ weeks effect much, if anything?????????
Brad - I am 20 miles south of you in the Tony area, I tapped on March 11th. It has been a tough year to say the least.
Everything that I have read or heard indicates that re-drilling or moving taps to a new hole in-season is not advisable.
To re-drill an existing hole gains minimal results and adding new tap holes is not good for the health of the tree.
It has been so cold, I wouldn't think there would be much bacteria to contend with.
I'm hoping once it warms up mid-next week (maybe) that we get a couple more sap runs.
Good question Brad--one I have been thinking about myself, but do not have the answer to. Also wondering if the cold conditions slow the healing process, if anyone can answer that. We tapped on march 10th and between the cold and rodent damaged (65 out of 80 so far) bags our sap take is low. I was thinking about tapping different trees just in case they are healing by the next run.
[QUOTE=sticky face; I was thinking about tapping different trees just in case they are healing by the next run.[/QUOTE]
I'm moving my non performing bags to new trees this weekend. Granted there are only about 20 of them, can't think it would hurt to roll the dice on a different tree. Shouldn't need to touch my 3/16" lines.
Brad - I know you got another couple hundred+ trees on your bush that could be tapped. :)
I was thinking of the same thing with it being my 2nd year tapping NE of Merrill. I was thinking of tapping a couple new trees this weekend incase some of my 17 taps start drying up. I have only made a Gallon of Syrup so far with most of the sap only coming from a few of the 17 trees that get a lot of sun. I would only re-tap a tree if it is big enough to support having 2 taps if you are worried about them drying up.
Bryan
I'm far to the southeast of you and my season is over. Only because I made as much syrup as I wanted. I tapped the 17th of Feb and pulled my taps after seven weeks. Today I had sapcicles hanging from one of the tap holes. Perhaps just wait it out a little longer.
Personally I wouldn't consider it unless we start getting sap weather again and you're not getting anything. With the weather as cold as it's been, I don't think your taps will have dried up yet. That said, these stretched out seasons with 5-10 day stretches of weather that's either too warm or too cold is the main reason that I switched to vacuum. I got tired of trying to guess when to tap and often getting it wrong.
Well I guess I'll just leave things as they are. This is the great thing about this web site, if you have a question someone has an answer. Let's hope that the season starts soon.
Brad,
Good to see your still in the syrup making business! Keep those orange tractors shined up too. I would also discourage you from redrilling. I tried it once and really did not see any benefits. Yes strange season with lots of cold weather. I am no where near you but feel the concerns. We are done for the year with about 2/3 crop produced. Seemed to be the longest season ever recorded!:)
Regards,
Chris