Re tapping?

[Jim Foster]

My question…. Here in SW Nebraska we had a great week of temps around Jan 28. I tapped and the weather went south and cold. Bitter cold between 30 to -18. Very few days above freezing. Will my trees have started sealing up the tap holes or am I good for another month? I’m using plastic tubing to buckets on the ground. Box Elder trees as it’s the only tree here to tap. Or would I be better off pulling my spiles and re tapping the next fractional drill bit size up and re inserting my spiles? My spiles are copper electrical fittings with tape wrapped around them in a manner that it forms a cone. Works very well and have had great success in the past. Around here I have absolutely no one to ask as no one else does this. -18 this morning and 60 degrees Sunday! The future forecast shows great temps. HELP!

[Super Sapper]

They may still run some when it warms up. Retapping is not recommended as you get very little improvement for the additional damage to the tree. What size hole do you drill for your taps? Are there other trees that could be tapped if they do not run?

[DRoseum]

Taphole closing has more to do with microbial activity associated with warm temperatures. A cold spell typically won't overly negatively effect tap holes. They should run fine when it warms back up.

As stated by Super Sapper, re-tapping is not recommended at all. Lots of studies have shown the very minimal positive yield effects along with major increase of sap wood staining (e.g., damage, scarring) of the tree. This has long term negative yield effects. I believe retapping was shown to increase the effected staining area by 2x or more.

[Gord]

I have done similar in the past. Caught and early run, and then had a freeze up. I'm mostly on reds, and when the freeze broke, and it warmed back up, most of my trees went back to running strong.

If I can add on to this thread, I also have a tapping question. In general, using buckets, is it better to tap when the sap is running? In other words, the temperatures in the north east have been single digits and teens, and not getting above freezing for weeks. There is a warm up coming next week with perfect temperature fluctuations. Is it ok to tap a day or two before the warm up, or wait till it starts running? Again, I'm on buckets, and still learning.

[Scm]

I've pulled my taps and drilled 1/4" deeper and had some good runs at the end of the season. UVMPRC also studied drilling a new tap hole a couple inches above/below the current one. I dont remember the results of that. I'm sure the Dr will chime in.

[ennismaple]

I believe those same studies showed a substantial increase in the stain column and in conclusion did not recommend reaming or re-tapping the same tree.

[nhdog]

this will answer your questions.
https://mapleresearch.org/pub/vt20earlytap/

[Jim Foster]

3/8” tap holes.

[ADK_XJ]

3/8” tap holes.

I would definitely not re-tap holes that large or any tap holes for that matter...you might consider moving to a 5/16" health spot. They heal much faster, create much less dead wood, and have similar yield.

[Jim Foster]

this will answer your questions.
https://mapleresearch.org/pub/vt20earlytap/

****! Really hurts the tree. I wish they would have done tests on holes reamed but not drilled deeper.