I wish I could tell you what to do. My grandpa used to tap his trees for syrup. In Pennsylvania. Do you have Agricultural agents in your area? We have them in every county in the USA. If you do they should be able to help you.

Someone showed us how to do that when we were kids so, needless to say, it's been years. I suspect the hole you drilled is too big - drill bit should be 5/16 or 7/16 and go in 2 1/2 inches. South side of the tree which gets hit by the most sun is best.

Can you fashion and insert a wooden plug or cork for the existing hole and start over?

Hi,

No, we don't have agricultural agents here, at least not to my knowledge. I concluded that you must have an office to that effect because whilst perusing through gardening sites, I quite often see references to an "Extension Office".

I am getting some but not nearly as much as I had expected. It is still cold, too.

I tried to plug the hole and start over but the sap just leaks out around the edges of the plug. They are on the south sides and the hole is too big. I broke a drill bit in the tree so I had to dig it out thus causing a large opening at the beginning of the hole.