Who doesn’t love the twinkling of lights during the holidays? They add merriment and warmth to a home and its outdoor landscape. Most people, of course, take down their Christmas tree and home decorations once the holidays are over. But especially considering the time and labor required to decorate with lights outside, our certified arborists in Kingsport are often asked: Is it okay to leave outdoor lights on trees after the magic of the holidays is over?
While we don’t always recommend it if you want to prolong the life of your lights as long as possible, the short answer is yes, you can leave lights on outdoor trees year-round.
However, we have a few small caveats:
Use outdoor lights
Outdoor lights are specifically designed to withstand temperature extremes and the elements, which is especially important during the winter and summer.
Use LED lights
Incandescent lights aren’t made to handle extreme weather and can be ruined by too much sun or rain. But LED lights are designed for that wear. They last longer and are energy-efficient, making them much more suitable for outdoor, year-round use.
Don’t wrap too tight
Especially if you know you plan to leave your lights up for a prolonged period of time, be sure not to wrap the strands too tightly around trees that are still growing. While older, stronger trees may be able to carry the weight of holiday lights and decorations, younger trees that are still growing can be damaged by the weight and as the strands tighten in time around new growth.
Arborists in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Holiday lights — especially those designed for outdoors — are meant to be seasonal and temporary. But some people choose to leave them for as long as they’ll last. Now that the holidays are over, if you plan to keep your outdoor lights up, triple-check that you’re using waterproof equipment, including extension cords, and that all cords and light strands are in good working order with no cuts, splits or frays. If you love the way your landscape looks during the holidays because of the extra lighting but you don’t have the time or want the trouble of putting up then removing Christmas lights, our Johnson City landscape professionals can help. Give Promier Tree in the Tri-cities area a call at (423) 872-2988 or contact us online today, and we can schedule a time to talk about exterior lighting that is designed specifically for permanent outdoor use.