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Time to Light the Trees!

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Last month I shared with you a few tips on the best way to light up bushes with Christmas lights. This month lets tackle a tougher job...trees.

Fir trees or any others that look like Christmas trees are somewhat easy to light. Start at the top and drape the power cord down the back of the tree towards the ground so you can later hook up your extension cord to run power to it. Then work your way down the tree towards the bottom either draping the lights or wrapping them in a cylindrical pattern.

Hardwood trees, like Maple, Oak or Elm trees provide a different challenge. They are never symmetrical, some branches are longer than others and it is hard to estimate the number of lights necessary to complete the task. Just remember that it doesn't take a lot of lights to make a tree stand out when it is dark outside. And the tree itself will virtually disappear after the sun sets any way...only the lights will be visible.

You only need to make a basic out line of SOME of the branches to make a tree light up beautifully. Start at the bottom and run a STRAIGHT line of lights up the tree trunk just off center of the trunk to the left or right. Wrapping the lights around the trunk will confuse the eye and over load the trunk with lights as compared to the branches.

Then when you get to your first desired branch to light up (it doesn't have to be the lowest one mind you) take your strand out in a straight line following the curves of that branch from trunk to tip. Again don't wrap the branch. I use a staple gun making sure not to crimp the electrical line. Then at the tip follow back on another straight line back towards the trunk. Again, you are looking to define the trees natural lines, plus wrapping the line uses up much more light stand. This way your lights will go farther and the tree looks more natural.

Once back to the trunk go a little higher and repeat the process. Your final section of light strand will then come back down the trunk of the tree off centered once again to the ground were you can make your connection for power. It sounds confusing but it is easy to get the hang of and your trees will look natural and spectacular. Give it a try.