It’s getting close to Christmas, and now is the time to decorate for the holidays. While it’s pretty custom to decorate inside your home, many people enjoy decorating outside just as much as the inside. That’s why Westcoast Tree Care would like to provide you with the following Portland tree care guide to decorating your outdoor trees.
Decorate Strong Mature Trees
Although Christmas lights may not seem heavy, their weight on younger, delicate trees can cause branches to bend, break or warp. The health of your trees isn’t worth decorating for the holiday. That’s why it’s important only to decorate strong, mature trees to ensure their long-term health and stability after the holidays are over.
Factor How Many Lights You’ll Need
Measuring your tree and factoring how many lights you’ll need will save you the time and frustration of having to stop what you’re doing to get more. First, take the time to measure the trunk of your tree and find its circumference. You’ll also want to calculate the height of your tree. Multiply these numbers to get an approximate measurement to figure out how many feet of lights to buy.
Use Only Outdoor Lights
Not all holiday lights are the same. This is especially true when purchasing new lights to hang outdoors. When you shop, make sure the lights you buy say they can be used outside. These lights are waterproof to prevent any electrical issues with rain or snow. Using indoor lights to decorate outside can end up burning or harming your trees.
Use Safety Precautions
More than likely, you will need a ladder to decorate your trees. Use safety precautions by having a friend or family member be your spotter. You don’t want to fall off a ladder right before Christmas. Gloves can also protect your hands from splinters while you’re wrapping your trees. With proper planning and safety in mind, you’ll keep the decorating process simple.
Secure Your Lights
While it’s important to secure your lights so they don’t fall or unravel, you never want to use a staple gun or nails because doing so will damage your tree. Instead, electrical tape can be used to secure your lights for your peace of mind.
Unwrap With Care
Once the holidays are over, it’s important to unwrap your Christmas lights with care. Although you may be tempted to leave them on throughout the year, doing so can actually stunt the growth of your trees. Even worse, they can cause detrimental damage to younger trees.
Portland Tree Care
Enjoy the holidays by decorating both inside and outside your home. If you find any issues with your trees in the process, contact the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Care by filling out our online form or give us a call at 1.800.767.8733. We can provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation quote for any of our Portland tree care services.
You can also check out all the fun holiday events Portland, Oregon has to offer by clicking here.
