How to Light Trees for Christmas: Trunk Wraps, Canopies, and Mini Lights
A lit tree can be the showpiece of a holiday display, especially on DFW properties with big live oaks and pecans. But trees are also the hardest part to get right. Here's how professionals approach them.
Choose the Right Light
Rooflines use big C9 bulbs. Trees use 5mm mini LED lights, which give dense, close-spaced coverage that follows the shape of the trunk and branches. Mini LEDs also run cool and use far less power than old incandescent minis, which matters when you're wrapping hundreds of feet.
Option 1: Trunk Wraps
Wrapping just the trunk, and sometimes the first major limbs, creates a bold column of light. It's clean, works on almost any tree, and is the most budget-friendly option. Trunk wraps look especially good lining a driveway or framing a front walk.
Option 2: Branch Wraps
Wrapping the trunk plus the main branches outlines the tree's structure. On a mature live oak, this creates the spreading, glowing silhouette that stops traffic. It takes more lights and more time, so it costs more than a trunk wrap.
Option 3: Canopy Lighting
Canopy lighting drapes or weaves lights through the upper branches for a full, glowing crown. It works best on smaller ornamental trees and evergreens. On very tall trees, canopy work usually requires a lift.
Hand-Wrapping vs. Draping
The difference between amateur and professional tree lighting is spacing. Draping strands loosely over branches leaves bright clumps and dark gaps. We hand-wrap trunks, branches, and canopies so coverage is even and intentional, and we scale the number of strands to the size of each tree.
Tips for DFW Trees
Live oaks: trunk-and-branch wraps show off their wide, twisting shape.
Crepe myrtles: their multiple slender trunks look great fully wrapped.
Evergreens and cedars: canopy lighting gives a classic Christmas-tree look in the yard.
Bushes: mini lights or net-style coverage tie trees into the rest of the display.
Match the Rest of Your Display
Trees should match your roofline. Warm white on the house usually means warm white in the trees. If you want contrast, a single accent color in the trees can work. Our guide to choosing Christmas light colors, plus our Christmas light ideas, have more combinations.
Want Your Trees Lit This Year?
Tell us how many trees you have and roughly how tall they are when you request a free estimate. See tree wraps from past projects in our project gallery, and mini light options in our catalog. We light trees for homes, HOAs, and businesses in Granbury, Fort Worth, Mansfield, Cleburne, and across DFW.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lights are best for wrapping trees?
5mm mini LED lights. They give dense, even coverage that follows the trunk and branches and use far less power than incandescent minis.
Is it cheaper to wrap just the trunk?
Yes. Trunk wraps use fewer lights and less labor than branch or canopy wraps, so they're the most budget-friendly option.
How do you keep tree lights from looking clumpy?
We hand-wrap trunks, branches, and canopies instead of draping strands, and scale the number of strands to each tree.
Can you light large live oak trees?
Yes. Trunk-and-branch wraps are a great fit for mature live oaks. Tell us the tree's approximate size when you request an estimate.
