Putting up lights in your yard is a great way to brighten up your home for entertaining this summer, or for just spending long, relaxing evenings outdoors with your family. A tasteful string of lights can work from season to season, proving festive from the 4th of July to Christmas. However, it’s important to know what’s the safest way to hang lights in your yard, so you can fully enjoy the experience without worrying.
For starters, it’s always a good idea to use energy-efficient, LED lights whenever possible. Most outdoor lights are made to withstand the elements, but it is a good idea to double-check this just in case. If you have trees or fence posts in the backyard, all you will need to do is get some mounting hooks from the store and attach them to wherever you want to string your lights. Some people use nails, screws or staples to keep lights up, but this is not a great idea, as anything sharp holds a chance of puncturing wires.
“But I don’t have trees or a fence posts in my backyard,” you may be saying. No problem! You can still hang lights simply by purchasing large planters and/or posts from most any home improvement store. If you opt to purchase a planter, it is important that you feel confident in your ability to work with concrete mix, as you will need this to stick the posts into. You may also be able to decorate your posts using rocks and flowers, but it is important to make sure they are sturdy, and unlikely to fall down. The same goes for just putting posts directly into the ground. You will want to dig holes that create a big enough foundation for the posts to fit, but not so big they will come loose and fall over. Make sure you also get posts big enough to support your lights. The last thing you want to do is dig up your yard only to lose all of your hard work, either because of a storm or because your lights didn’t have adequate support.
There may be other structures in your yard which you can hang lights from, you’ll just have to look for them and see! Bottom line: watch out for sharp objects/edges, make sure everything is sturdy, only go with lights that are safe for outdoor use, and you should be fine. For more tips and tricks as well as a full range of electrical services, call Mel Carr Electric today. Our Albany electricians have been providing quality work since 1976, and have routinely been ranked among the best in the area. Contact our licensed electrical contractors today, and find out why customers love us in Albany and beyond.
Dial (518) 500-3042 now or contact us online. We promise to respond to your request within 24 hours.