Tips for Outdoor Christmas Lights

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As our world becomes a real-life snow globe, it’s time to start thinking about putting up those outdoor Christmas lights. For tips about the best time and method for installation, check out the information from the professionals at A&N Lawn Care, a landscaping company in Pittsburgh.

christmas lights displayTiming

Late fall is the best time to hang up your outdoor Christmas lights and get into the holiday spirit! You’ll avoid the true depths of the cold and the subsequent dangers that come from a snow-covered ground. The trees will have lost their leaves, and the temperatures won’t be too cold yet.

Best Type of Lights

Before hanging up your lights, you will need to make sure they can be used outside to avoid any damage, electrical issues, or personal injury. LEDs are the best as they are efficient, have a longer lifespan, and come in tons of colors. The best strands have bulbs about 6 to 8 inches apart. This allows for more light over a larger area. 

Planning Ahead

Prior to heading outside, you’ll need to consider how many lights you need to achieve the look you want. For a year-round design, white is the best light color. Colorful light strands are the best for a seasonal look. A&N Lawn Care recommends keeping to one palette that fits with the look of your home’s exterior. You’ll also want to test your light strands indoors, rather than doing it outside in the cold.

Choosing the Best Trees

Our professionals from Pittsburgh’s best landscaping company recommend starting with a central point. It can be the largest tree or possibly one with a unique shape. From the center, you can then work your way out using the surrounding trees and shrubs. Make sure to keep in mind where your power source is!

Start at the Bottom

The best way to hang your Christmas lights is to work from the bottom up. Start by securing your extension cord at the best. For an elegant look, try to evenly space out your lights as you work up from the trunk. To avoid overloading the outlet, limit the number of strands per tree to 3. 

Securing the Lights

Once the lights are up, you will want to either tuck in the strands, use twine, or gardener’s tape to secure them. Avoid using wiring which could result in personal injury.

A&N Lawn Services, Inc has provided Pittsburgh-area nurseries with premier year-round lawn care service for over 20 years. Their garden center and nursery located on Reis Run Road offers total landscaping, hardscaping, and lawn care services to the Allegheny and Butler County regions. If you’re looking for more information about the fall festival, contact A&N Lawn Service, Inc., at 412-931-9230.