When the day time temperatures begin to warm above freezing it is time to think about collecting sap from trees for the maple syrup season.
Each spring there is a period of time, when the temperatures are above 32 degrees during the day and below 32 degrees at night. During this time trees move the sap they have stored in their roots up the tree and into the branches to begin the new growing season. The sap rising up the tree when the temperatures are warm and flows back down to the roots as temperature drops below freezing. You will hear old timers comment, "the sap is running" or the "sap was running good today".
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To collect this sap, the first step is to "tap" the tree. To do this you will need a spile and cordless drill. Spiles come in many shapes and sizes. It is important to first figure out which spile will work best for your specific situation and make sure to purchase a drill bit the correct size for the spile. Big producers often use a pipeline system, but spiles can be as simple as a hand cut piece of bamboo tubing.
We decided on a system of plastic spiles that connect to vinyl tubing. This way our large buckets can sit securely on the ground. We need large buckets because we are at work all day and do not have time to empty them until after 6 pm. When the sap is "running good" a five gallon bucket can fill in a day. The plastic spiles also work great for large trees that can accommodate two or three spiles. In an article in Grit magazine (March/April 2013), it stated that a tree that you can span with your hands, thumbs to forefinger, is large enough for a single spile. You can collect more sap from larger trees without damaging the tree by adding additional spiles. We have very large trees that can accommodate three or more spiles.
The next step is to drill a hole to accommodate the spile. The hole should be on the south (sunny) side of the tree, about 3 feet or so from the ground, at a slight upward angle and about 2inches deep. The depth of the hole is determined by the width of the bark. Trees with a very thick outer bark will need a deeper hole. If you are putting in more than one spile, place the spiles about 1 foot apart.
Tap the spiles into the tree. The holes should be big enough so you can insert the spile with just the pressure of your fingers, giving it a slight tap with a hammer to secure it. It should fit snugly as loose spiles will leak sap down the tree instead of in your bucket.
Add the vinyl hoses and place the ends in a bucket. If the winter has been cold and the frost deep it may take several days for the sap to start running. Check your buckets every day and collect the sap that has collect. We strain each bucket into a large food grade container and store outside until we have time to start cooking the sap down into syrup.
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| Large maple tree with three spiles and a food grade bucket. |
Each spring there is a period of time, when the temperatures are above 32 degrees during the day and below 32 degrees at night. During this time trees move the sap they have stored in their roots up the tree and into the branches to begin the new growing season. The sap rising up the tree when the temperatures are warm and flows back down to the roots as temperature drops below freezing. You will hear old timers comment, "the sap is running" or the "sap was running good today".
To collect this sap, the first step is to "tap" the tree. To do this you will need a spile and cordless drill. Spiles come in many shapes and sizes. It is important to first figure out which spile will work best for your specific situation and make sure to purchase a drill bit the correct size for the spile. Big producers often use a pipeline system, but spiles can be as simple as a hand cut piece of bamboo tubing.
 |
| Plastic spiles- the long side goes into the tree and the shorter side attaches to vinyl tubing. |
We decided on a system of plastic spiles that connect to vinyl tubing. This way our large buckets can sit securely on the ground. We need large buckets because we are at work all day and do not have time to empty them until after 6 pm. When the sap is "running good" a five gallon bucket can fill in a day. The plastic spiles also work great for large trees that can accommodate two or three spiles. In an article in Grit magazine (March/April 2013), it stated that a tree that you can span with your hands, thumbs to forefinger, is large enough for a single spile. You can collect more sap from larger trees without damaging the tree by adding additional spiles. We have very large trees that can accommodate three or more spiles.
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| My husband, Bill drills a hole for the spile. |
The next step is to drill a hole to accommodate the spile. The hole should be on the south (sunny) side of the tree, about 3 feet or so from the ground, at a slight upward angle and about 2inches deep. The depth of the hole is determined by the width of the bark. Trees with a very thick outer bark will need a deeper hole. If you are putting in more than one spile, place the spiles about 1 foot apart.
Tap the spiles into the tree. The holes should be big enough so you can insert the spile with just the pressure of your fingers, giving it a slight tap with a hammer to secure it. It should fit snugly as loose spiles will leak sap down the tree instead of in your bucket.
Add the vinyl hoses and place the ends in a bucket. If the winter has been cold and the frost deep it may take several days for the sap to start running. Check your buckets every day and collect the sap that has collect. We strain each bucket into a large food grade container and store outside until we have time to start cooking the sap down into syrup.
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