Frequently asked questions

32 - Q : Will a maple that has lost all or almost all of its crown produce sap if it is tapped?

A : There are four known phenomena that explain why sap runs in the spring. These are root pressure, capillarity, gravity and vessel turgor, caused by changes in temperature. Root pressure is sufficient to cause sap to flow from a tap even if the crown is gone. However the efficiency of sap production is closely tied to rising temperatures that are mostly felt in the maple's crown. Consequently, a crownless maple will produce three quarters of the amount of sap that a healthy maple will produce. If a sugar bush has been badly damaged by ice (classes 3 and 4), it is probably not worth the investment to reinstall the vacuum collection system.