This calculator found at from the University of Vermont is a good resource to aid in tapping sustainably. Trees with a DBH less than 10 inches can be tapped but will produce less sap.Ī concern with tapping smaller trees is that it will harm the tree however, they can be sustainably tapped for many years if done right. The general rule is a minimum of 10 inches of trunk DBH for tapping. The first one is the diameter at breast height (DBH), which is the tree’s diameter around 4.5 feet from the ground. There are a few important things to consider when picking a tree to tap. Alternative branching, where the buds, leaves, and stems are staggered, is more common than opposite branching.įigure 3. Maple buds have a smoother appearance without noticeable scars where the leaf was attached (Figure 4). Ash buds typically have more pronounced “knobs” at each bud where the leaf was attached. Ashes are easy to misidentify as maple because of this shared characteristic. This pattern can greatly help narrow down the possibilities during the dormant season, as the only other common trees in Utah landscapes with this arrangement are ash, horse chestnut, and dogwood. Maples have opposite buds (Figure 3), which means that buds, stems, and leaves are arranged directly across from one another rather than staggered. Samara Comparison: (left) Boxelder (right) Norway Maple The required components to produce maple syrup include: (1) correct-sized trees in the Acer genus, (2) the right temperatures for sap flow, and (3) the equipment to collect and process sap.įigure 2. The best part is that it is relatively easy to obtain and simple to make. Maple syrup is a natural source of sugar and can be used in many recipes to make yummy treats and foods. Both species are abundant throughout the state, with the former primarily found in natural mid-elevation canyons and the latter extensively planted in urban landscapes. In Utah, two common tappable maple species are boxelder, sometimes called ashleaf maple ( Acer negundo), and Norway maple ( Acer platanoides). However, sap can be harvested from any maple species, as well as other tree species such as birch and walnut. In high maple syrup-producing areas like Canada, sugar maples ( Acer saccharum) are the most popular trees to tap for maple syrup due to the higher sugar content in their sap (Perkins, 1996). When you think of maple syrup, you probably think of Canada since over 75% of the world's supply is produced there (Crops, 2021). Jesse Mathews, Youping Sun, Kelly Kopp, Darren McAvoy, Steven Price, Paul Harris, Michael Farrell, Michelle Sagers, and Patrick Kelly Introduction 043 - Producing Maple Syrup From Boxelder and Norway Maple Trees
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