If done carefully using the best practices, tapping trees can be done with little to no harm to the tree. Whenever we share information on tapping trees, there’s always at least one comment of concern for possible damage to the trees.
However, any good tree farmer or homeowner naturally has the best interest of their trees in mind. One member in our Planting for Retirement Facebook group who taps their maple, Cindy R. says, “We are counting down the weeks till maple syrup season starts. Usually mid Feb-March.”
Her family’s homestead and farm, Mulberry Apiary, is located in Princeton, MN, and they’re thriving selling cage free farm fresh eggs, honey from their own beehives and also maple syrup from their own trees.
For more wonderful gifts from trees, check out our article on edible tree leaves.
The tiny tree tap hole, if done right, is analogous to donating blood. It’s a tiny hole and heals itself quickly and without damage to the health of the tree.
“Sweet Trees” You Can Tap
Tree water, aka, sweet water is a growing business. Whether it’s your backyard trees, your back 40 or for your survival backpack, knowing how to tap trees for water especially, can be useful and possibly even a life saver.
You’re probably pretty familiar with tapping sugar maples for syrup. We discuss that further below as well. But did you know you can also tap trees like boxelder and walnut for water and even syrup?
Birch is another tap tree for sweet water, and there are at least 5 different varieties of birch you can tap. In fact there’s an entire and growing tree water industry that especially favors birch water which you may also enjoy reading more about.
9 Trees You Can Tap for Syrup
1. Box Elder Tree, Acer negundo
Boxelders will produce sap, but it will be significantly less sweet compared to the sugar maple and yields about half as much.
2. White Walnut (Butternut) Tree, Juglans cinerea
The white walnut tree is most comparable to the sugar maple as far as sugar content and yield is concerned.
3. Black Walnut Tree, Juglans nigra
The black walnut is a good sturdy midwestern tree. It is used mainly for its timber resource, but will produce a sap from fall to spring.
4. English Walnut Tree, Juglans regia
English walnut trees are the most popular of the walnut bearing trees and grow almost solely in California. Sap production can be abundant, especially if the climate during winter and spring is cold.
5. Heartnut Trees, Juglans ailantifolia
Heartnuts produce a sweet sap but with less yield compared to the sugar maple.
6. Sycamore Tree, Platanus occidentalis
The sycamore tree is a butterscotch lovers dream for the sycamore sap taste remind you of butterscotch.
7. Ironwood Tree, Olneya tesota
Ironwood trees produce sap in the late spring months. The volume isn&rsq