TYPES OF MAPLE TREES FOR SYRUP HOW TO

Complete kits are offered in two varieties, with plastic buckets/lids or metal buckets/lids.

This equipment can be purchased on this site. Cheesecloth: Used to filter any solids (such as pieces of bark) when transferring sap from the collection bucket to a storage container.Hooks: Hooks are attached to the spile and used to hang the bucket.Spiles: The spile (or tap) is inserted into the drilled hole to transfer sap into the bucket.Drill Bit: Depending upon the type of spile used, either a 5/16 or 7/16 drill bit is used to drill the tap hole into your maple tree.Lids: Attached to the top of the bucket to prevent rain, snow, and foreign material from entering the bucket.Buckets: Used to collect the sap as it drips from the spile.The equipment needed to tap your trees can be grouped into two sections, equipment specific to tap the tree and other general equipment (which you typically already own). Obtain your equipment early, as supplies may become limited when the sap is flowing (that is the time of year everyone is purchasing equipment). While this site is focused on tapping your Maple trees, other types of trees can be tapped to collect sap, including Birch and Walnut trees.

TYPES OF MAPLE TREES FOR SYRUP HOW TO

Click on the link of each tree for a detailed description of how to identify the tree. The most commonly tapped maple trees are Sugar, Black, Red, and Silver Maples.

Identifying the type of maple tree is also important, as certain maples contain a higher sugar content, which will be described in later sections. If your trees have already lost their leaves, your maple trees can be identified based on other characteristics (see below links to commonly tapped maple trees). The ideal time to prepare this map is in the Summer or Fall, when the leaves are still on the trees. A great joke in Canada refers to tapping telephone poles, with the result being Pole Syrup (also known as imitation syrup such as Aunt Jemima® or Mrs. If you try to tap an Oak tree, you will be greatly disappointed in the results. The most effective way to identify maple trees is to create a map of your yard and record each type of tree (or at least the maples).

Types of maple trees for syrup