Recommendations for lights to wrap around an outdoor plant

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by hi2u_uk, Dec 12, 2025 at 7:44 PM.

  1. hi2u_uk

    hi2u_uk Gardener

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    A few homes round me have put lights around their outdoor plants in their front gardens. Can anyone recommend a brand of light that looks good that i can wrap around an outdoor plant over Christmas. It needs to be something that doesnt need an electrician to come install it though
     
  2. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    A year or so back I came across an electrician who used Christmas lights to keep his tree ferns frost free, but he did live in Leicestershire a fairly cold part of England.
    Why be a sheep, just stick up a placard that says "Bah Humbug" and be done with it.
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I think you can get sets of lights that work on batteries.
    My experience of Christmas lights from years ago is that they only seem to work for a short time until something goes wrong with them.
     
  4. Selleri

    Selleri Koala

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    Battery operated string lights designed for outdoors use are sold in most supermarkets. They can look very pretty in the dark nights. :)

    I'd go for "warm white" but that's just a personal taste.

    Even the cheapo ones often come with a simple timer so that once they are switched on at dusk they stay on for a certain number of hours and then auto- switch off and turn back on the next day at the same time. Very clever.
     
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    • Escarpment

      Escarpment Total Gardener

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      Would the modern LED ones be any good for that? I thought they didn't give off much heat.
       
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      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        Probably not, he had a supply of old lights that he'd repurposed. He also used trace heating tape as used to prevent water pipes from freezing.
         
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        • Philippa

          Philippa Gardener

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          If, for some reason, you feel you need Christmas lights in your garden you only have 3 nights to worry about ( 24/25/26 ) so why not just use a small torch planted in the ground and shining up thru the foliage ? Not only cheaper and less less light pollution but your plant will no doubt be grateful too.
           
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