How amazing it is to have such incredible resources literally right in our backyards!įor more tips on creating your own maple syrup, check out our Maple Syrup Blog.The Acer Maple Tree family is incredibly diverse! Sporting around 132 species, these Trees (and even a few shrubs!) are native throughout every continent in the Northern Hemisphere (with just a few exceptions).įound in the fossil record as far back as 100 million years ago, Maples make up a broad range of sizes from diminutive Bonsai to incredible specimens 150 feet in height! Plus some Maples live up to 300 years! Now, it’s time for you to learn how to tap these wonderful trees and process their maple sap into syrup. However, this tree has almost as large of a natural growth range as the Red Maple. This is because of its low sugar content, early spring growth, and tendency for its sap to evaporate. But this is the least desirable of the four. It is possible to get a pretty good syrup out of a Silver Maple. Specifically, this tree can grow as far north as Nova Scotia, as far south as Florida, and as far west as Minnesota and Texas. No other hardwood can thrive in such a wide variety of conditions, which makes it a great tree for making syrup. But this tree makes quality syrup and grows just about anywhere! The Red Maple does not have as high of sugar content as the Sugar and Black Maples. It does not appear to grow much on the East Coast of the United States. It grows between southeastern Quebec over to central Wisconsin and south to Tennessee. But it has a smaller natural range than the Sugar Maple. It also produces sap with high sugar content and has a late growth in the spring. The Black Maple is most similar to the Sugar Maple. It can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate extremely wet or dry sites. The Sugar Maple occurs naturally in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States (as far west as Minnesota and as far south as Tennessee). It is also preferred for its late growth in the spring. This is the most preferred tree for making maple syrup, not surprisingly for its high sugar content. In the meantime, see below for an introduction to the four most common syrup-making maples. It should include colored pictures of the trees’ leaves, bark, fruit, and twigs/buds. To identify which species of maple trees you have, even in the winter, we suggest you find a reputable source. So when tapping season (usually mid-February through mid-March) comes around, you are prepared. We suggest you make a map of your property in the summer, when trees are most easily identified. The four types of maple trees commonly used for syrup production in North America are the Sugar, Black, Red, and Silver Maples. And you can tap giant maple trees with over a 27-inch diameter three times. But you can put two taps on trees with a 21- to 27-inch diameter. You cannot put more than one tap on maple trees with a 12- to 20-inch diameter. Make sure it’s a healthy tree, free of disease or damage. To get started, you will need at least one mature maple that is 12 inches in diameter or more. Have you ever asked yourself, “I wonder if I could use these to make maple syrup?” Good news, you probably can! Below is a list of maple tree species that you can tap from Blain’s Farm & Fleet. Look at the maple trees in your backyard. Discover the best tree species to tap for maple syrup.
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