Decorating with Outdoor Christmas Lights

Before you go crazy and start hanging your Christmas lights, there are a few things you need to do to prepare for your little adventure. Being prepared before you start hanging your outdoor Christmas lights will save you a lot of time and frustration. Remember, this is supposed to be a joyous time of the year so lets do our best to make that possible.

Preparation

Lay the lights out across your yard and make sure they all work. Replace any bulbs that need replacing. It is a lot easier to replace bulbs on the ground than on a ladder. Make sure none of the wires are split. If they are then you might need to replace those strands of lights. Layout all of your strands of lights where you think they are going. This will give you an idea of whether or not you have enough. Also, laying the lights out first will help you determine how you are going to run power to the different sections. This is something you want to think out so that your extension cords are not visible for the world to see.

Hanging

Make sure you have the clips necessary to hang the lights or you can use a staple gun. You want to make sure that you don’t split the wire while your using your stapler. If you decide to use clips, there are a few types to consider depending on how you are going to hang your lights. Gutter clips and shingle clips are the most popular. Both clips are simple and very easy to use. Gutter clips are in the shape of an “S”. One part of the “S” holds the lights wire and the other clips onto the gutter. Shingle clips look a lot different. Most styles have a circular area on one end where you can slip the lights wire into. The other end is like a flat blade that is made to slip under the edge of a shingle. Determining which clip to use is dependent on whether or not you have gutters. You might have gutters on only a portion of the house so in that case you would use both styles of clips to decorate.

Safety

I can’t stress enough about safety. Christmas time is supposed to be a time that you spend with your family and friends. The last thing you need is to get injured while putting up your lights. Be careful if you have to get on your roof or climb a tall ladder to hang your lights. If you are having any reservations about installing lights, then hire a professional. Many landscape companies today install outdoor christmas lights to keep their employees busy during the slow part of the year. Letting a professional do the job could end up saving you some money in the long run.

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