Maple Sap Tapping, nothing is flowing?

LittleRedHen · #1 02/18/13, 02:01 PM

Its blue skies, 40 degs and my spiles are bone dry. I have them at a slight angle. I thought at first my holes were too small so I redrilled bigger holes. Still bone dry. I am at a loss here. These trees flowed fine last year even with a short season. My set up is the same but NO sap. Can having the bottom 24 inches of the tree covered in snow hinder sap flow? i am a loss here.. other people in Michigan are talking about their sap flowing like rivers and my spiles are dry... South and West facing sides of trees. I am scratching my head. (spiles are from Tractor Supply)

woodsy · #2 02/18/13, 02:51 PM

They are not ready to give yet ?
Wind will keep the sap down too on a 40* day. .
Snow on the ground doesn't matter.

LittleRedHen · #3 02/18/13, 03:16 PM

Maybe. They give me a drop here and there now. Other people in the area are getting sap but maybe mine are just not quite there yet :/ Not a drop of wind here today

sugarspinner · #4 02/18/13, 03:22 PM

Snow on the ground doesn't cause a problem but if your trees are into the woods, not along the edge, they may not be running because they're just too cold yet. Give them time. So far, this year hasn't presented many really good days. This is enough of a problem that most of the producers down here in central Indiana haven't tapped yet. Just wait. Your time will come.

jd4020 · #5 02/18/13, 03:54 PM

I believe for sap to run it has to be warmer in the day and colder at night. If temp stays cold, sap won't run. Whe temps stay warm, sap is different & time to stop. At least that what the folks who make sirup here in Funks Grove, McLean, IL (just up the road from us) told us.

A friend helps them set their taps and piping and they have the piping up, but not the tap & buckets. They do both as they have regular tours for groups of people to see how both ways work.

God bless,
jd

fantasymaker · #6 02/18/13, 05:05 PM

Wow Our season here is already gone.

woodsy · #7 02/18/13, 05:56 PM

Hasn't even started here yet.

HuskyBoris · #8 02/18/13, 06:56 PM

with that freezing rain and dropping temps we probably won't see any this week I'm sure,my neighbor runs taps across the road from me,perhaps I'll mosey down there tomorrow night and see if he has anything yet.he's into the north side of the woods pretty far but it's all swampbehind the trees,I have dabbled in it a little but I am so busy I only do a little at a time but I am wondering one thing,do swamps tend to be warmer and sap flow more?,just curious mostly.