How To Put Christmas Lights On A Tree Outside

When Christmas approaches, if you have a penchant for decorating, it is likely that you’ll already have an image in your mind of how you want your outdoor space to look for the festive season. There is something special about passing through a beautifully decorated neighborhood and taking in the sights, and many of us want to ensure that our home looks the part for the season.

Although there are countless ways to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays, for many, the focal point is always putting Christmas lights on a tree (or trees). This is a spectacular way to showcase the front of your home - particularly if you have taller trees where the lights climb and create a stunning effect.

However, putting Christmas lights on an outdoor tree is not without its difficulties - as you may be aware of if you’ve ever tried. Notwithstanding the obvious differences between outdoor and indoor light installation (weather, height of the installation, etc.), it can be very difficult to wrap lights around an outdoor tree in a way that ensures they’ll stay looking fantastic for the duration of the holiday season.

In this article, we’ll address some of the common issues with installing lights on an outdoor tree, and then give you a step-by-step guide on how to do it correctly.

Complexities associated with putting lights on outdoor trees

Wrapping an indoor Christmas tree is straightforward enough - particularly as many artificial trees come with lights pre-wrapped. For an outdoor tree, though, there are many more factors to consider that can hamper the appearance of your lights.

• Exposure to the weather. Outdoor lights will be exposed to the elements for several weeks. Depending on your climate, the weather can have a detrimental impact on the quality and/or safety of your outdoor installation. In colder conditions, snow and ice can weigh down lights, resulting in a detrimental impact on how they look on the tree. Wind gusts can have the same effect, or even blow lights off the tree entirely if they are not securely fastened.
• Potential damage to trees. Many common ways to fasten lights to a tree (nails, screws, etc.) could actually cause damage to the tree itself. Brittle branches could be broken if lights are wrapped too tightly around them. If care isn’t taken when wrapping the trunk of the tree, the bark could be punctured which can have a negative effect on the appearance and even restrict the health and growth of the tree in the long run.
• Appearance. Once you have wrapped Christmas lights indoors, they’re unlikely to move (depending on your proficiency and skill, of course!). However, due to the fact that outdoor lights are exposed to rain, wind, ice and snow, hastily installed outdoor lights may not look pristine a few weeks after they are installed.
• Improper planning. When installing lights outside, trees are typically taller, weather factors can play their part, and the distance from the power source to the lights themselves is usually greater. This can present problems if you do not plan out your outdoor light installation in advance - from not having sufficient lighting to wrap around the tree, to safety concerns from overloading an outlet or not using weather-resistant cords. 

Preparation is key

As with many things in life, preparation can alleviate many of the common issues you will face when installing lights outside. 

Take a moment - perhaps a couple of weeks before you intend to put your lights outside - and sketch out precisely where you intend to install the lights. Determine how you are going to safely secure the lights to your tree, where you are going to run the power from, and what the finished installation will look like. You’ll also want to make sure you have any equipment necessary to safely complete the installation. 

Installing Christmas lights on a tree outside (step-by-step)

Taking the time to think about your outdoor light installation will make it easier when the time comes to actually put them up. 

While you might think that the installation process is daunting or time-consuming, using TreE-Z® Wrap makes it easy, simple and straightforward to install lights on your outdoor tree. Our solution ensures that your installation looks perfect for the entirety of the holiday season and allows you to complete installation and removal in a fraction of the time it would usually take. We’ll be using TreE-Z® Wrap in our step-by-step guide below.

Step 1: Gather your lights and installation equipment

Make sure you are using weather-resistant lights (LEDs are recommended), and ensure you have enough lights to cover your tree. Test the lights to make sure they work before you put them on the tree. If you are using TreE-Z® Wrap for your installation, open up our video instruction guide ready to help you through the process.

Step 2: Affix TreE-Z® Wrap to the back of your tree

Use the starter cord to attach TreE-Z® Wrap to the back of your tree, as close to the top as required (the back of the tree is the side that will be facing your home - the front will be the side facing away from your home). 

Step 3: Wrap your lights around your tree

In a serpentine motion, wrap the lights around your tree with even spacing, securing the string inside the TreE-Z® Wrap at the back of your tree. If you need to continue installing lights further down the tree, simply add extra TreE-Z® Wrap sticks by attaching another one to the stick that you have already installed. 

And that’s the process! It really is that simple! Using fasteners, screws or nails to install Christmas lights outdoors can take several hours, with no guarantee that the lights will stay in place, and the potential of damaging your tree; with TreE-Z® Wrap, you get a professional look that remains in place for the entirety of the holiday season, protects your tree from damage or inclement weather, and is sure to impress anyone who walks past your home.