What Richmond yards ask of tree lighting
Richmond is flat, open and close to the water. Wind comes off the Strait of Georgia and meets very little on the way, so lights on an exposed tree get pushed around more than they would in a sheltered yard. We clip strands in place so they hold through a winter storm.
The ground matters too. The water table is high, and lawns and walkways stay damp through the wet season. We keep cord connections up off the ground so they are not sitting in standing water.
Many 1960s to 1980s ranchers and two-storey homes in Seafair, Broadmoor and Thompson sit on wide lots with a big front tree or a long hedge. Those yards often look dark next to a lit house. Lighting the trees and shrubs fixes that, and you can skip the ladder.
How we light trees, cedars and hedges
The method depends on the plant. Bare trunks and limbs look best wrapped closely. Cedars and other evergreens look better with strands draped through the branches from the top down. Hedges get nets, which cover them evenly and avoid the patchy look you get from loose strands.
Everything runs on outdoor-rated cord to a timer, so the yard comes on and goes off without you.
Wrapping will not hurt a tree over a season. The strands sit loosely and come off in January. Leaving lights on a growing limb all year is what causes damage, so we do not leave them.
How high we can go depends on the tree, where a ladder can stand safely and what is under it. Send a photo and we will say what is possible. Large trees take longer than the usual hour or two.
Your lights or ours, booked as a single job
If you have bins of lights in the garage, we will hang them as long as they are outdoor-rated and still work. If they do not, we can supply lights. That includes the dead strand buried in the middle of a tree that you gave up on last year.
You can book the yard alone. Plenty of people only want a front tree or a hedge done. Install, repair and removal can each be booked on their own, even on lights someone else hung.
The price depends on a few things. These are the size and height of the trees, how many you want done, how far the yard is from an outdoor plug, and whether we supply the lights. We explain it before you book.
We use clips only. No nails or staples go into your trees or house. Removal is in January.
Townhouse complexes and condos in Richmond
Townhouse complexes are common across Richmond, and City Centre around Brighouse is mostly newer condo towers. In many of these, the strata decides what can go on the exterior. Check your strata rules before you book, especially for trees and shrubs in common areas.
We also work with stratas, low-rise condos and storefronts. If you are on a council or managing a building, we can look at the shared trees and hedges as a separate job from any individual unit.
For a townhouse with a small front yard, a single tree or hedge often makes the biggest difference. Cord runs are short when there is an outdoor plug nearby. If the plug is a long way from the plants, we will tell you how the cords would run before you book.
