History and production tour:
Page 4

Sap is drained from maple trees in the spring when it is flowing from roots to branches. Early maple producers may have used an axe to chop a groove that allowed the sap to drain, but over the years the spile and tap method was developed.

When drilling taps, it is important to make sure that holes are neither too deep nor too wide. Minimizing this type of drilling damage is important because it ensures that trees can heal quickly and reduces sap contamination.

For the last several decades, hand drills, electric drills with a backpack battery, and gasoline-powered drills have been used to make holes to collect sap.

Sap flows out of these taps, through spiles, and into a bucket or tubing system. Spiles used with buckets are best if they have a lip or hook that allow for the bucket to hang without sliding off. The spiles are inserted into the holes made by the drill a few days before the sap is expected to start running. Spiles are removed at the end of each maple season (after the sap stops running) so the tree can heal.

Overtapping

As most producers have learned, drilling too many holes in one tree, or "over-tapping," is harmful to maple trees. As more holes are drilled, more sap can be collected. However, trees have trouble healing an excessive number of holes. A healthy maple can recover from several holes, but because many maples are stressed from a variety of other environmental factors (for example, insects, drought, temperature, acid deposition) current recommendations call for one tap in trees between 12 and 18 inches in diameter, and no more than two taps for larger trees.