Hehe one of my most consistent high-producers is the biggest tree here, I'm guessing around 150 yrs old. But my next-best trees are probably only about 100 yrs old. The others are all around 60-80 yrs old. This is based partly on basic math but also historical records, as my house is a former schoolhouse, and things like tree planting were recorded, so I try to extrapolate which trees are referred to!
In terms of tapping patterns I wing it, but try to stagger the pattern so not too close to recent and/or not quite healed holes from previous years. Personally I like to tap a bit low on the trunk, mostly to make full buckets easier to lift (esp as snowpack melts) but also to ensure that I'm not using up all the easy-to-access areas.
Last edited by Galena; 02-15-2017 at 08:59 PM.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup