Outdoor light displays make your yard look beautiful. Stringing lights across a pergola or along a fence line just brings a certain ambiance to your outdoor space, but what do you do with the trees? Most outdoor areas do have a tree or two and adding trees to your yard can help provide an added level of privacy, but what do you do about lighting them? Here are some of the best ideas we have found based on the type of trees your outdoor space may have.
- For All Types of Trees
- For Small Slender Trees
- For Large Trees with Robust Branches
- For Tall Trees with Long Trunks
- For Trees Between Parterres
- For Tall and Dense Trees
- For Topiary Trees
- Five FAQs about Outdoor Tree Lighting
For All Types of Trees
Solar Landscape Spotlights
Solar landscape spotlights help you manage outdoor lighting appropriately. They provide uplighting through LED bulbs and have the benefit of not requiring wiring. Depending on the model purchased, the solar landscape lights can serve multiple functions. Some have motion sensor technology while others simply stay on throughout the night. No matter your needs, solar outdoor lights seem to be a win for all types of trees.
Solar Fairy Lights
Fairy lights are an excellent idea for most lighting needs, including virtually all types of trees. The benefit of fairy lights is their ability to adapt to the contours and curves of trees. Whether you have a tall tree growing epically in your outdoor space or just a petit shrub, solar fairy lights offer beautiful lighting without being fussy. They also do not have any bearing on the power grid, so even if your tree is a little farther from an outlet, power won’t be a problem. Just make sure the solar cell is not shaded by the tree. Otherwise, the battery may not charge adequately throughout the day.
For Small Slender Trees
Solar Hanging Lamps
Small, slender trees can be difficult to find the right lighting for. The branches can bend and break under the weight of many lights, so small hanging solar lamps seem to be the top solution. Such lamps are available in a range of sizes and are very light. They offer vibrant lighting without weighing down branches. Best of all, the clips can be clipped anywhere within the tree to provide the right amount of lighting for your needs.
For Large Trees with Robust Branches
Outdoor Bistro Lighting
Large trees have a lot of strength to them and can stand up to more substantial lighting choices. The larger bulbs featured in bistro lighting offer an excellent contrast to the bold nature of large trees with robust branches. The lights can be purchased in a variety of colors and are easy to install or link together if necessary.
Mason Jar Solar Lights
Mason jar lights have become more popular in recent years. Their popularity is not merely for their ability to light a space without the need for complicated wiring, but their classic country aesthetic. These lights can be placed anywhere, and the long handle makes them an excellent choice for robust branches on large trees. The lights can be taken down and put up easily and provide bright lighting, provided the lights are allowed to charge during the day. Mason Jar Solar Lights come in a wide range of colors, so it is easy to find the exact color for your tree.
Hanging Solar Lanterns
Robust tree branches can take on virtually any type of lighting with ease, but why not enhance that bold nature of the tree with Hanging Solar Lamps. These lamps can be attached easily to thicker branches by S hooks making them effortless to install. Additionally, if more light is provided, you can string the lights together around the tree by attaching a rope to the space. Hanging Solar Lamps come in a range of colors and designs to choose from and offer a unique and striking appearance to your trees.
For Tall Trees with Long Trunks
Rope Lights
Tall trees with long trunks such as palm trees can be difficult to decorate, but not impossible. Rope lights often work best for this type of tree as they provide an extended lighting effect that can be wrapped around the trunk and branches of the tree and they are weather resistant as well. Many rope lights offer the ability to change colors via a convenient remote control, so you can have the ideal lighting with the touch of a button. Like string lights, Rope Lights simply plug into any home outlet. You can also choose the solar-powered type.
Sound Reactive Fairy Lights
Lighting for tall trees and their long trunks does not have to be boring. Sound reactive lighting for these trees makes the outdoors even more fun. Most of them are powered by a convenient USB port. They are usually controlled by both remotes and mobile apps through Bluetooth technology. These smart lights provide many DIY features, including setting millions of colors and various flashing patterns. The best part of these lights is that they can connect to any music-enabled device and sync to the music rhythm. The versatility for this type of lighting is astounding and keeps the party going throughout the night.
For Trees Between Parterres
Solar Firefly Lights
Lighting areas between parterres can be difficult, especially when it comes to trees. Often trees in these areas are not overly large and power outlets are not always available. Solar technology comes to the rescue again. Solar firefly lights are on the end of long poles connected together by a central power source. Their long stems dance in the wind and provide a very unique appearance for your lighting needs. They are excellent for lighting trees between Parterres and the solar technology enables them to be placed practically anywhere without the need for an external power source.
For Tall and Dense Trees
Meteor Shower Lights
What is more stunning than a meteor shower? You can have the same effect without waiting on the celestial event right in your backyard. Meteor shower lights are ideal for tall, dense trees. They are essentially string lights with extended LED lights for a drop-down effect. When lit, the tree will look as though meteors are falling from above. These lights are becoming more popular for parties and big events, but they are easy to install in any tall or dense tree, so why not give meteor shower lights a try.
For Topiary Trees
Net String Lighting
Topiaries and bushes or trees that are ornamental in their appearance can be very difficult to decorate. Generally, string lighting would be appropriate for these areas, but getting the spacing exactly right can be impossible. However, net string lighting offers a much better solution. These lights are exactly like traditional string lights, but they are strung together in a net style. This aspect enables you to drape the lights over your topiary or ornamental tree without difficulty. They simply plug into any outlet for a stunning light display each, and every night.
Five FAQs about Outdoor Tree Lighting
1. What Is the Best Lighting for Outdoor Trees?
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the best lighting for your outdoor trees. Obviously, string lighting in various varieties will offer the most versatile solution, but you also have to consider how the lights are connected to a power source. Where the aesthetic may be important, it is of little use if a power source is unavailable. Time and time again, solar lighting options tend to outmatch traditional plug-in lighting fixtures, so investing in solar with LED lights for optimal power consumption tends to be the ideal solution to your outdoor tree lighting needs.
2. What Color Light is Best for Trees?
The choice is up to you, but if you are looking for a more elegant solution to your lighting requirements, stay away from bright colors. Bright colors may look great on a Christmas tree, but they do not provide an elegant, high-class feel. Yellow and white lighting brings out the best in the natural setting of your trees. You want to enhance the tree’s beauty, not detract from it.
3. How do You Spotlight a Tree Outside?
Spotlighting a tree comes down to lighting angles. For a small tree, simply one spotlight pointing at the canopy of the tree will be excellent. However, if your tree is larger, multiple spotlights should be used. The first spotlight should be angled to showcase the tree’s trunk and subsequent spotlights can angle into various points of the canopy, so the whole tree is lit appropriately.
4. How Many Feet of Lights Do I Need to Wrap an Outdoor Tree?
You will have to do some measuring to determine how many feet of lighting is necessary to wrap your tree. Lights should be spaced 3” apart when wrapping so base your lighting on that spacing. First, you need to calculate the circumference of the tree. For example, if you have a 4’ high tree with a 16” circumference, you will need approximately 32’ of lighting to account for spacing, height, and circumference.
5. How Many String Lights Do I need for an Outdoor Tree?
The number of string lights necessary to cover the tree is based on the height and circumference of the trunk. A good rule to use is 100 lights for every foot of tree to make sure everything is covered appropriately and spacing is accounted for.
Conclusion
Lighting an outdoor tree does not have to be difficult. Knowing the type of tree you have in your outdoor space and accounting for the weight of the proposed light is key. Whether you choose to use string lights for smaller trees, bistro lights for larger ones, or simple hanging lamps to enhance the lighting experience is up to you. However, keep in mind what is appropriate for the space. Some neighborhoods might have strict regulations regarding outdoor lighting, so always check with your HOA if you suspect your outdoor tree lighting may be a problem.
