Be sure to identify your maple or nut tree’s in the fall or summer months when they have leaves. Tapping is all done in the winter, when the nights are freezing and the days are above 4C. Maple and other trees rely on the freeze and thaw method for sap production, this change in temperatures helps the sap flow through the tree more.
1. Select a healthy maple tree that is at least 10 inches in diameter and at least 30 years old. This will ensure the tree has enough sap to make tapping worthwhile.
2. Measure up from the ground approximately 4 feet and mark the spot with chalk or a piece of tape. This is where you will make your first tap.
3. Use a hammer and an 8-inch spout to make your tap. Gently tap the spout into the tree at the marker about 2 inches deep.
4. Attach a bucket or other sap-collecting container to the spout.
5. To ensure you get the most sap from the tree, you should tap multiple times. Make a second tap about 10 feet away from the first one and at a slightly higher level.
6. Collect the sap from the container periodically and store it in a cool, dark place.
7. Once the sap stops flowing, you can remove the spouts and buckets, plug the hole with the trees own branch wedge so it can heal over.
Drink your tree sap as a nutrient dence water right away, or boil down to create a syrup!
