How to Wrap an Outdoor Tree
Wrapping an outdoor tree with Christmas lights is a moderately challenging activity and is best executed with the help of one other person. Before you begin, untangle your lights and test them to make sure they work. Also, consider decorating during the day when you can better see inside the tree and position the lights on the branches. In terms of technique, imagine wrapping a tree with ribbon as you wrap it with lights. se the same technique for wrapping a tree with lights as you would wrapping a tree with ribbon. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 3 sets of outdoor 100-light strands per each foot of height (battery-powered lights are recommended)
- 1 stepladder
- 1 helper
Instructions
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Calculate how many light strands you will need based on the height of your outdoor tree. (You do not need to take out a tape measure; stand next to the tree and estimate based on your own height.) There are different ways to estimate the number of strands, with some taking into account variations in the width of trees and the size of the lights. Ladies' Home Journal simply recommends "three 100-light sets per tree foot."
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Purchase battery-powered outdoor Christmas lights. You can wrap a tree with any outdoor tree lights, but using battery-powered lights means you will not have to bother with extension cords or high electricity bills. Also, if you can afford them, use battery-operated LED lights, which are an ideal choice because they "are cool to the touch and extend the life of your batteries," writes Christmas Lights Etc.
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Test the the light strands to make sure they work, and leave them on. "It's much easier to position a lighted strand," advises Lowe's website.
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Wrap the light strand around the base of the tree and work your way up. This is where it helps to have a second person nearby. Wrap your strand as far you can, and then pass off the lighted strand to your friend. Connect light strands if your lights have connector plugs. If they do not, then set ends on top of one another so that the strand appears to be one unbroken string of lights.
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Place the lighted strand on top of the branches as your wrap. Make sure they rest securely. Do not be afraid to wrap part of the strand around a branch if needed. As you wrap branches higher uo on the tree, you may need to use a stepladder. Make sure you have another person holding the ladder steady and watching you as you wrap to avoid falling.
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