Attaching a lighting wire or a fixture to a tree with a staple gun or wrapping the wire around the tree represents both the fastest and the most foolish way to attach a wire to a tree. It also highlights why you should use a certified landscape lighting professional to do the job—expertise, tools and skills that the rest of us do not posses. If you consider yourself a DIY-er, than you might want to read these tips. They will help you learn how to properly attach & maintain light fixtures and wires in your own landscape. However, if you don’t have access to some of these materials or if you don’t feel comfortable working on low voltage lighting systems, a professional will always be willing to help you out.
First and foremost, the metal composition of staples constitute a threat to the trees because it can poison and kill the tree. Furthermore, since trees grow outward from the trunk, a tree in which a staple is directly driven will begin to grow around it and the wire. As the tree grows and expands, it would cover and pinch the wire, tearing it and creating a short circuit.
Nylon cable ties wrapped around the wire and fastened to stainless steel screws are the right way of attaching the wire to a tree. The screw allows for growth of the tree because it can be backed out during routine maintenance of the system. And unlike the staple, stainless steel does not contain any poison that can kill a tree. As the tree grows and expands, it would not consume the wire because the nylon cable tie would break before the tree consumed it, allowing the wire to float on the tree. If there is little or no maintenance on this part of the lighting system or rapid growth of the tree, the tree might end up consuming the screw, but will not be damaged. A certified landscape lighting professional will have the tools and skills to install the right fixture for the job, as well as to properly install the fixture so as to do no harm.
Located in Summerfield, NC Southern Lights- Architectural and Landscape Lighting serves properties and property management companies throughout the state of NC including Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Burlington, Reidsville, Oak Ridge, Brown Summit, Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Raleigh, Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury, Gastonia, Matthews, etc.
Southern Lights has installed hundreds of outdoor landscape lighting systems and carries more certifications than anyone in the state. We specialize in lighting designs and service everything we install as well as lighting systems installed by others. With attention to detail and a solid knowledge of design, Southern Lights is the leading outdoor landscape lighting firm in the state of NC and beyond. See why our clients choose us. Contact us today by web (online form) or phone 336-451-4969.
