Video – How To Tap A Maple Tree

Tapping Trees Can Be A Family Affair

Tapping trees can be a great hobby for the whole family and at the same time provide you with syrup for many months to come.  It is an valuable outdoor activity to learn and and a skill that can be past on to the kids. This process originated from the Native Americans, passed down to the early settlers and is still today a very popular sugar making process.

The tapping season normally stats in March and runs until the mid of April or until the tree has runs dry. The items you will need are: a sharp and clean drill bit, a spile and a bucket.  There are few important things to remember when tapping a tree, find a healthy tree with a nice and green canopy of leaves, select a good spot to drill and remember not to drill too deep, about 2 1/2 inches, and drill at a slightly upwards angle.

Now the spile can be inserted by tapping it in with a hammer.  Make sure not to tap to forceful as it could bend or break the spile.  And finally attach a collection bucket, then wait!

 

 

Watch the video on the Next Page to get familiarized with the skill to tap a tree. (Click “Next” below)