Lighting trees and shrubs on Vancouver lots
Most Vancouver yards are small. On a 33-foot lot the side yard is narrow, and there is often little room to stand a ladder. That is a common reason people call us for the front tree or hedge, even when they have bins of lights sitting in the garage.
On the west side, in Kitsilano, Dunbar, Point Grey and Kerrisdale, mature street trees shade the property and drip through winter. Branches and ground stay wet. On the east side, in Hastings-Sunrise, Renfrew-Collingwood and Killarney, yards are often shallow, so the route the cords take to the plug matters as much as the lights.
We look at where a ladder can stand safely and what is underneath it. Send a photo and we will tell you what is possible before you book.
How we wrap, drape and net
Bare trunks and limbs look best wrapped closely. Evergreens and cedars look better with strands draped through the branches from the top down. Hedges that look patchy when lit usually need a net laid over them so the coverage is even.
Everything runs on outdoor-rated cords to a timer. We plan the cord route so it stays off the lawn and walkway as much as possible. We attach with clips only. No nails or staples go into your trees, fences or trim.
If you have your own lights, we will check them and hang them if they work and are outdoor-rated. If not, we supply them. A dead strand buried in the middle of a tree is a repair job, and it can be booked alone, even on lights someone else hung.
Wrapping will not hurt a tree for a season. The strands sit loosely and come off in January. Lights left on a growing limb all year are what cause damage.
What the price depends on, and how long it takes
We price each yard by what is in it. These are the things that move the number.
- The size and number of trees and shrubs
- How they are lit, whether wrapped, draped or netted
- How far they are from an outdoor plug
- Whether you use your own lights or want them supplied
Most yards take an hour or two on top of the house lights. Large trees take longer. Plenty of people only want a front tree or a hedge done, and that is a fine job to book by itself. There is no program or yearly plan to join.
Rain from November on makes roofs slick, so fall installs on dry days go best. Frost is rare, but wet connections are the most common reason lights go out. If roof work is slick or windy, we move it to a safer day. Removal happens in January and can be booked alone.
