How to Collect Sap From Sugar Maple Trees

There's nothing like a hot steaming stack of pancakes with butter and maple syrup. But what you might not have known is that collecting sap from a maple tree is not that hard. Here are some tips on how to collect the initial sap, which is the basis for maple syrup!

Things You'll Need

• Syrup tap
• Metal pail or bucket
• Piece of tarp or wrap

Instructions

1. Wait for the perfect time. A tree is best tapped when temperatures drop below freezing at night, and are followed by temperatures into the forties the following day. Check the temperature averages for your area. Most likely this will be late fall, the end of winter and early spring. Essentially if the temperature is below freezing, the sap will not "run" as it is essentially frozen.

2. Drill a hole. From the base of the tree, drill a hole 3 feet up. Make sure the hole is about 1 1/2 inches deep. Please note that this hole should be on the sunniest side of the tree so that it receives the most warmth throughout the course of the day.

3. Insert your tap. (Sometimes called a spile) These taps, which can be purchased online or at your local hardware store, should be about 3/8 inch thick. Again most places will sell these as specific "taps" for maple trees, so you shouldn't have a problem relative to size.

4. Hang the bucket. A 3-gallon bucket or pail is recommended. You may also use a milk jug, but it may need to be changed every day. If you do use a large bucket or pail, be sure to cover the top with plastic or a tarp to keep debris and other material from falling inside.

5. Empty your bucket. Store your sap in a cool dry location until you're ready to actually make your maple syrup. Since it is essentially sugar water, it will keep for a couple of weeks in storage until you are ready for it.

Tips & Warnings

• You may tap several different kinds of maple trees in order to get sap to make syrup. A sugar maple tree is the best as it has the highest sugar content. But you may also tap silver, red and box elder maples as well!

• Make sure the tap is inserted at a slight upward angle. This is to be sure the bucket doesn't fall, as well allowing gravity to aid the sap in running into the bucket.