Tapping and Untapping Maple Trees

Description

Overview of the sap flow phenomenon, its composition, and tapping practices; location of the tap; quality of the drilling; period, tools, and tapping techniques; examination of types of spouts and tapping; study of the importance of proper untapping and compartmentalization.

Objectives

• Understand the phenomenon of maple sap flow
  • Describe the spring sap flow phenomenon in maple trees
  • Describe the various factors that affect spring sap flow
• Understand the impact of tapping on the tree
  • Describe the injury caused by a good and a poor tap
  • Describe the effect of old taps on the annual production of a maple tree
  • Describe compartmentalization and how to limit it
• Understand good tapping practices for maple trees
  • Define the appropriate tapping dates based on the factors that affect tapping rates
  • Describe the physical characteristics that determine a good tap
  • Describe the impacts of proper and improper tapping
  • Describe the observations to make before drilling the taps
• Understand the proper untapping technique
  • Describe the appropriate timing for removing spouts
  • Describe the proper and safe procedure for removing spouts
• Understand the functionality of tools and accessories used during tapping and untapping
  • Describe commonly used drilling, tapping, and untapping tools
  • List the variety of spouts and adapters used during tapping

Content Overview

• Composition of sap: water, sucrose, minerals, etc.
• Sap flow phenomenon: absorption phase, exudation phase
• Factors affecting sap flow: tree health, tapping date, quality of the tap, temperature, etc.
• Impact of taps on the tree: injury, production, compartmentalization, etc.
• Tapping practices: dates, physical characteristics (placement, height, depth, diameter, etc.), tapping, etc.
• Untapping techniques: date, methods, etc.
• Drilling tools: drills, bits, hammers, etc.
• Variety of spouts and adapters.
• Untapping tools: spout pullers, dosage tools, etc.