If you have maple trees in your yard you can make maple syrup. In this post, we'll show you how to tap the trees and collect the sap. You'll need about 11 gallons of sap to make one quart of maple syrup. The amount of sap your tree will produce will depend on many factors, including the size, species, and health of the tree. And, of course, the weather!
When to Tap
Sap runs when cold nights (below freezing) are followed by rapid warming and daytime temperatures from the high-30s to mid-40s. According to the Minnesota DNR, sap typically runs from March 15 to April 20. But it all depends on the weather. If conditions are right, sap will run in January or February.
What to Tap
You can tap silver maples, sugar maples, red maples, or box elder to make syrup. Trees should be at least 10 inches in diameter, four feet from the ground. Very large healthy trees can support a maximum of two taps.