How to Decorate Your Outdoor Trees without Harming them

Are you thinking about decorating the trees in your yard for the holiday season? Holiday decorations make a wonderful focal point for your home. Remember, trees are living things, too. Explore our guide on how to decorate your outdoor trees without harming them.

How to Decorate Your Outdoor Trees without Harming them

Tips for Hanging Lights

Lights are the cornerstone of any tree dressing during the holidays. However, there are several things to consider before hanging outdoor decor. For a safe and effective light display on your trees, follow these tips when hanging holiday or Christmas lights.

Plan & Measure

Measure the height and circumference of the tree. Calculate how many lights you need based on your desired spacing between the wires. Then, divide the height by distance and multiply the figure by the circumference to get a measurement in feet on the length of light cable you need.

avoid tree damage

Proper Outdoor Tree Lights: Ensure you buy lights rated for outdoor use to avoid making lights a fire hazard. Outdoor use of standard incandescent bulbs is safe, but they should not be directly exposed to rain.

Extension Cord Safety: Wire in the power using a rainproof extension cable. Secure it at the base of the tree trunk to prevent trips.

Don’t Wrap trees too tight: Don’t wrap the light strings too tight. Doing so will damage the tree’s bark and limit growth.

Important Things to Remember

• Test the string lights: Test your lights before hanging them. It’s way easier than doing it after you’ve hung them, only to find a globe is out at the top of your large tree.
• Try Solar-Powered Lighting: Make your holiday light strands eco-friendly and choose a solar-powered system.
• Don’t Leave them Up Year-Round: Remove the lights after the holiday season.
• Proper Maintenance: Inspect the lights regularly for faulty bulbs.

Tips for Hanging Birdhouses and Signs

Signage is a fun way to decorate for the holiday season, while birdhouses give the species that stay home for the winter somewhere to snuggle up when it’s cold. Follow these tips to avoid damaging the tree and ensure a safe fitment.

Select the Tree

Choose a tree with a four to 12-inch diameter at chest height and perching branches for the birdhouse. Choose a tree like a holly or cherry to give the birds a close food source.

Use strong cord or fabric straps to attach the birdhouse to the tree without causing any harm. We recommend nylon webbing for the best results but don’t strap too tight.

If you strap the birdhouse too tightly, it results in “girdling” and the eventual death of the tree. Loosen and adjust the straps once a year to prevent it.

Avoid Nailing

Don’t nail the house to the tree. Penetrating the bark exposes the tree to infection from fungi, bacteria, viruses, and pest infestations.

Don’t Make It Heavy

Ensure the build is an adequate size and not too heavy that it falls out in strong winds or breaks branches.

Maintain the Perches

It is a good idea to get rid of all diseased branches on the tree to give the birds a safe place to perch.

Don’t Place the Birdhouse in High-Traffic Areas

Placement too close to people or pets can cause the birds to avoid nesting.

Watch the Roots

If you’re placing a sign in the ground, don’t do it too close to the tree roots.

Hanging Decorations on Outdoor Trees

If you have a fur or pine in your yard, dress it up as an outdoor Christmas tree. Follow these tips to make it happen.

• Don’t Damage Needles – Don’t damage the tree’s needles or foliage, as it’s their food source. Deciduous trees are dormant in the winter, but evergreens are sensitive to damage during this season.
• Don’t Hang on Dead Branches – Remove dead branches to prevent decorations from falling on the floor or infection spreading in the tree.

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