Decorative Ways to Hang Outdoor Solar String Lights

There are several ways to hang outdoor solar string lights to beautify your yard. You can use poles or hang your outdoor string lights from trees, above your deck, or across the fence. But first, you have to choose the location.

Choosing a Location

Consider the kind of surroundings you have. If your outdoor space has trees, you can use these trees for hanging your string lights. If your outdoor space doesn’t have trees but has poles or fences, you can use them.

Choosing a location also depends on the type of solar string lights you have. If your lights have external solar panels, choose a location with enough sunlight. You can either stick the solar panel stakes to the ground or mount the solar panels on treetops.

If your outdoor space doesn’t have any existing structure for hanging outdoor lights, you can buy tall metal or wooden poles and install them in a location of your choice.

After deciding on the location, arrange the string lights on the ground in the desired configuration.

Helpful Tools

You’ll need the following tools:

• Vinyl-coated screw hooks
• Q-Hanger screw hooks
• Stainless steel screw eyes
• Galvanised finish nails
• Cable clamps

4 Ways to Hang Solar String Lights Outdoors

Hang Solar String Lights to a Tree

In addition to the general tools, you will need a solid ladder, measuring tape, and a sharpie.

Follow the below steps to hang string lights from trees:

1. Set up the ladder on the body of the tree. Ensure that it’s positioned so that you can come down with ease.
2. Next, choose a location for the solar panel. Keep in mind, that the panel works best in direct sunlight to charge the batteries.
3. The next step is to mark your tree. Once you’ve ascended the ladder, use a measuring tape or yardstick and the Sharpie to mark spots roughly 3 inches from each other along the tree trunk’s length. These marked spots will serve as a guide when hanging lights.
4. Wrap the string light strand. Ensure you wrap the light strand firmly enough to remain on the tree while not making it very tight. The reason is your tree trunk swells after a heavy downpour. If your light strand is too tight, the swelling of your tree can damage your lights.
5. Ensure there is enough spacing between strands from branches. This applies if you want to wrap the same string of lights around several branches. Ensure there’s ample space between each wrap so that you can also wrap it in the middle as you descend.
6. Finally, use a basic knot & twist tie to secure the ends of the string lights. Alternatively, you can use zip ties. Wait until the sun sets and enjoy the soft glow.

For best results, get creative. Use multiple light strands of different colors to create multicolored trees. To not end up mixing up colors, we recommend color-coding the strands using a colored tape piece to avoid this.

Hang String Lights Using Metal Poles

Aside from your solar string lights, you’ll need the following to hang lights from a metal poles:

• A pair of ¾-inch squeeze connectors
• A pair of galvanized electrical conduits (¾ inch in width and feet in length)
• PVC Cutters
• A pair of 1 ½ -inch wide PVC pipes (each should be 2 feet long)
• Measuring Tape
• Screwdriver
• Level
• A pair of poles (10 feet long)
• Post Hole Digger

Steps

1. Dig holes 24 inches into the ground, preferably at the corners of your patio.
2. Install one of the pieces of PVC pipe into the hole and hold it at a vertical level. Then, secure it by packing dirt around it. You can also opt for cement if that’s your preference.
3. Add the conduit pole to the larger PVC pipe.
4. Repeat the last two steps with the other hole and pipe.
5. After installing the poles into the ground, cap them with ¾-inch squeeze connectors.
6. Attach the light strand at the top of the poles.
7. Your patio lights are ready to beautify your yard.

Hang String Lights on a Deck

Tools Needed

• Cup hooks
• 1″ by 2″ Furring strips (8 feet long)
• Electric screwdriver
• Exterior wood screws
• Poles
• Level

Steps

1. After determining how many poles you’ll need, you can paint the poles to match the color of your deck railings.
2. Install wooden poles on the deck by using exterior wood screws. For stability, use a pair of wood screws for each pole. Ensure you’re checking for level while you’re screwing the poles to the deck railing.
3. Screw a cup hook to the top of the poles and the side of the building, which will be the starting point and ending point for the string lights.
4. Attach string lights by hanging the light strands from the first hook, hang it across to the second hook, and continue repeating the process to all the hooks. At the last hook, you may have a short length of string lights left, and you can let this down at the side of your building.
5. If you have a small deck, there may be no need to swing the lights back and forth; you can just form a simple perimeter.

Installing String Lights Along the Fence

Firstly, have a layout of your fence using the string lights. This will give you an idea of how many support posts you’ll have to install and how much length you need.

Secondly, lay the string lights on the ground using your fence line as a guide. Then use a tape to mark where you will need to install support poles. This is to make up for the absence of natural supports.

Ensure you leave extra space so that the string lights can hang and achieve some motion. Decide where to keep your solar panel to power up your lights.

Next, get wooden posts to support the string lengths on the fence. Ensure you consider factors such as the weight of your string lights and your preferred appearance before you select your posts.

Also, ensure these posts are sturdy enough to withstand weather elements. They should also be identical in length, shape, and size.

Tools Needed

In summary, you’ll need the following;

• Wooden poles
• Measuring tape
• Cup hooks or fence clips for string lights
• Hammer (or the drill)
• Nails (or screw)

Steps

1. Attach your mounting hooks by screwing them to these wooden posts. Their purpose is to secure your string lights.
2. Next, install your wooden posts to your fence using either a drill and screws or a hammer and nails.
3. Ensure you use a measuring tape to determine the height of your poles so that they will be installed at even heights. This will make your lights hang evenly. Ensure there’s ample spacing between these posts for proper support
4. Next, find a sunny place for the solar panel and place the first light bulb next to the hook to assess the spacing.
5. Hang the rest of the string.

Alternatively, you can hang solar outdoor string lights directly on your fence without support posts.

Simply attach your mounting hooks to your fence and hang your lights from there. However, this won’t be as aesthetic as using wooden posts.

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