How to Hang Outdoor String Lights Without Trees

Understand how to string lights in your lawn with stage by move guide to hanging outside string lights from fences, poles, and roofs.

One particular of my most well-known posts is my tutorial on how to hold outdoor string lights from our oak grove at the ranch. But our yard at our property appears to be incredibly different… and yours may, as well! 

How do you string world lights in a yard without trees? Today, I’m heading to clearly show you.

Factors for Hanging Outside String Lights

Right before I present you exactly how we hung our lights higher than our pool, I want to aid you think by means of the out of doors lights tips and alternatives for garden and patio lights.

Overhead vs On the Facet

I’m a sucker for twinkle lights, like Christmas lights, and the ambiance they provide when strung throughout a fence or by the trees is such a entertaining ingredient in yard lighting. Nonetheless, if you want the lights to present functional lights, like for eating, then you will want larger sized lights strung overhead.

To string lights overhead, you will need a fixed issue at minimum 8 toes off the floor that can keep the tension of a wire or light-weight strand. This can be a tree, the eaves of your house or gazebo or lined patio, a pergola, a fence, a wood publish, a second tale deck railing, a metallic pole, or any sturdy assistance.

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Solar String Lights vs Plug In

Talking of practical overhead light-weight, I tried numerous various photo voltaic mild strands, and I could not locate a single that in fact supplied adequate light-weight for our applications. We desired the house to be totally lit to enjoy eating, swimming, scorching tubbing, and even an outdoor game night we hosted. The photo voltaic gentle strands look exciting for ambiance, but not ample for endeavor lighting.

So if you are seeking for activity lights, then you will have to have to look at your electricity supply. Your style for stringing your lights will have to have to commence at a plug and/or incorporate an extension wire that can blend into your house.

Wire vs No wire

At the ranch in the oak grove, I utilized this kit and strung a information wire for the lights (which proved to be handy because squirrels like to eat the mild cords – ugh – and that makes it possible for me to replace sections with no losing the rigidity of the complete space). In our yard, however, since I wasn’t absolutely sure I needed the lights there permanently, I selected to cling the lights without having a wire kit.

Long lasting vs Detachable

Technically all of these string lights are rather removable, but there are absolutely ways to make them much easier to place up and consider down if you want that adaptability. Primarily if you have to incorporate posts to maintain the lights, you will want to think about how quick it will be to get rid of the posts if you ever choose to. 

Glass Bulbs vs Plastic

We selected to use these business strands with glass bulbs at the ranch. They are beautiful, and due to the fact there is mulch beneath, we haven’t damaged many… But if I had it to do over all over again, but I would likely decide on plastic just to eliminate any fears.

In our out of doors space at home, on the other hand, we have a substantial concrete patio and pool underneath the lights, so plastic bulbs have been a will have to. We also chose a strand without the further dangling wire for each individual light since we wished to attain as a lot headroom clearance as attainable. 

How to Hang Outdoor String Lights Without the need of Trees

With all these issues in intellect, we selected overhead plug-in lights with plastic bulbs, and I acquired artistic to set up them in a way that appeared stylish and developed-in but could simply be taken off if we chose to. Allow me display you how!

Components we utilized to dangle our outside string lights:

1. Evaluate your place

Use a tape measure to approach the house and identify the selection of mild strands you want and the very best configuration for them. You will also will need to consider exactly where you can connect the lights (see #2 down below). Fortunately, you can see the length of each and every strand of lights prior to buying, so you can make your options appropriately.

We decided that a VVV development which started out at the outlet over our grill would be ideal. If you can, it aids to draw out the space from an aerial viewpoint.

2. Prepare your supports

We understood we required the strands to come off the framing of the porch, so that gave us two of our details. We have a mountain laurel tree that is mainly in line with the porch, so that provided level #3 on the home facet of the lawn.

For people points, we made use of hefty-obligation screw hooks. The hook screws into the wooden and holds the light-weight strand.

On the other dimensions, we experienced the mild pole for the grill, but we continue to wanted 3 far more supports to total our VVV development. Did you know you can generate your possess supports?

We have a charming wrought iron fence, but it is only about 4 ft tall, not virtually tall sufficient to assist overhead lights. I regarded buckets or planters with cement or gravel, but I did not want to vacation around them or have to lug them in or out if we at any time made a decision to choose the lights down. 

In its place, I purchased 8-foot lengthy 1″ aluminum square tubing and painted it black to match our fence making use of the merchandise listed higher than and this system for painting outdoor home furniture. I connected the poles with weighty-duty black zip ties (which you truthfully don’t observe except if you are staring at it up close): 3 at the prime for protection and a person at the base for greatest steadiness.

Take note: aluminum is very slightly versatile. You might see a very little bend in the pole if the stress is significant, but you shouldn’t have any difficulties with durabilty.

3. String your lights

It was so simple to cling the lights! We utilised zip ties all-around the sides of the posts and mild pole to protected the light-weight strands. The cup hooks did not need any securing since they maintain the wire securely.

It has been just about 10 months considering that we put in these lights, and they even now seem superior as new! I  installed them for a social gathering, but I was uncertain if I would want to preserve them up all year since our porch is elevated and they are in your line of sight when standing on the porch… but I only adore them!

Do it yourself Backyard and Patio Lights

In brief, you may have to get innovative, but hanging your string lights can be completed. I do assume it is doable to cling lovely, expert seeking string lights even with no trees or lasting poles. 

Take into account attaching to roofs and porch beams with hefty duty screw in hooks. Try out extending steel fences with aluminum poles painted to match or undertaking the exact same with a picket pole from a picket fence. Use zip ties to hold it all alongside one another and love your new house!