Christmas lights on an outdoor tree

5 years ago

I would like to put lights and perhaps a star on my spruce tree. I could simply wrap lights around it but I would like to put a star at the top and have strings of light hanging straight down.

Potential problems: would putting a star on the top leader damage the leader and cause a secondary leader? ( I think it would but checking, the lights will not be taken off)

I have an idea: a coated wire circle place over the top, so it is not actually attached to the trunk but resting on the nearly top branches, then attach a lightweight star to this, the light strings could also be attached and hang down.

Do you think the weight of the lights would be too much and do some damage?

Other ideas? thank you

Laurie

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
the lights will not be taken off

==>>

how big is the tree.. what kind of spruce tree ... is it really imperative that it be precisely on the leader??? ... why wont the lights be taken off ...

and finally.. why risk it .. after dark.. who is going to know if its one the leader tip ... or down a few inches???

we can ID it with a pic of two.. and if you are willing to do that.. add a pic of the star.. with scale ...

is there any high wind potential... that this thing might be whipping around up there. ...

ken
Sara Malone Zone 9b
5 years ago
Stay away from the leader. The rest should be fine. Ken's right - when it's dark, no one will know that the star is not on the leader!
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applemum
Original Author
5 years ago
Ken, great thoughts, the star absolutely does not have to be on the tip top, thank you.

The lights won't be taken off because this is about a 20-25 foot tree, to tall to easily manage, we are borrowing a ladder truck to redo the lights this year.

Certainly there could be wind, we don' t get the wind some do as we are somewhat protected but at times the north wind can really get worked up.

I am in zone 3 and this is a native spruce, not swamp spruce, that's about as much id as I know.

We don't have the star as yet, wanted to know if this was workable before we invested. Our last star was homemade, quite heavy, thinking this time of buying one, should be lighter, maybe not as durable.....
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
great thoughts, the star absolutely does not have to be on the tip top, thank you.

==>>>

story of my life .... one gets stuck in a box ... and forgets to look outside it ... and once they do.. its the ultimate duh moment ... lol ...

i asked about weight , size and wind.... for fear it will scar the plant where ever you attach it ... you surely dont want it flopping around up there ..

frankly.. skip the star .. if it causes any problem.. it isnt easy to get the bucket truck back.. so why bother ...

besides... its whimsical to light a tree in summer ... but the star might take it beyond whimsical into the bizarre with the blatant xmas theme ...

whatever floats your boat and makes you happy is 2 thumbs up with me ... happy holidays ...

ken