Need Opinion on Tapping Big Old Trees Previously Tapped by Others

[TapTapTap]

My new sugarbush expansion is on leased land. It has about 700 taps with many large hard maples. My challenge is that it has been used on and off as a sugarbush for a long time - I can spot the old sugarhouse on a 1942 aerial photo.

So my question is how to structure my tapping protocol. It's not clear that the prior operations used any method. Most trees seem to have old tap holes in concentrated areas and not systematically located. Since they're mostly large diameter trees, I could work the areas that appear to be mostly free of old tap holes and offset horizontally and vertically each future year. My other option would be to tap below the lateral since all of the visible old holes are up high. This below-the-lateral program would allow me to start fresh in hopefully clean wood, better identify my old tapholes during future seasons, and may be healthier for the tree.

Any thoughts?

Other info:
- I'm on high vac
- The trees are generally very healthy, tall, with large canopies. Many are 30" plus diameter.

Thanks for any advice. I feel like I have a team of professional maple consultants!

Ken

[Pdiamond]

I'd start low and only put in two taps per tree and no more.

[TapTapTap]

I only do two taps per tree in accordance with good tapping practices for high vacuum.

[BAP]

For trees that big, I would make sure to put on longer drops than you normally would so that you can reach all the way around the tree.

[DrTimPerkins]

Excellent application for tapping below the lateral. Just be sure your spout/dropline sanitation practices are very good.

[ddociam]

Would you elaborate on what are best practices for tap and dropline sanitation protocals?
Are you speaking mainly of changing spouts every year, and droplines every three? Cleaning every spring with Sodium Hypochlorite.
Drilling a clean circular taphole? Is there anything else?
I am beginning to switch over to cv spouts.
Is there any value to wiping off with alcohol before tapping.

[ennismaple]

If they cluster tapped the lines you should still be able to find lots of good sapwood. I'd go 2 taps per tree for the big ones with a minimum 36" droplines but you may even want to go longer so you can reach the back side of some trees. We have some monster maples that have "custom" droplines we used that are up to 5 feet long to allow us to tap the entire circumference.

[TapTapTap]

This is my first year on this woods so they're all new drops. I bought half/half 36" and 40" drops - after installing a 100 or so I wish I'd gotten all 40s. For this first year, I'm using CDL clear 5/16" signature spouts and plan to switch over to cv taps next year and for the following year, or two. Then I'll change out the drops and start again.
Ken

[TapTapTap]

If they cluster tapped the lines you should still be able to find lots of good sapwood. I'd go 2 taps per tree for the big ones

The old taps are kind of clustered but that makes it challenging to have a consistent pattern. For number of taps I'm doing 2 maximum since we're on high vacuum.

Ken

[TapTapTap]

Excellent application for tapping below the lateral. Just be sure your spout/dropline sanitation practices are very good.

Dr. Tim - you make an excellent point and made me rethink my strategy. Since the drops are new, and I already bought my non-cv spouts, maybe I'll do this first year on the drop above the lateral in areas that look best for tapping. Then next year, I'll do the cv spouts below the lateral. When I cycle out my drops I can go back to the non-cv spouts above the lateral and back below afterwards.

Ken