Tree Mounted Fixtures

by Dean Nida, Nida Lighting

Care should be taken when aiming the fixtures to eliminate direct glare from the lamp. According to Dean Nida, long directional shrouds should never be used. Also, take into consideration how deciduous trees will look in the fall.

The first thing to consider is that lamps in the fixtures will have to be replaced periodically. This obviously means that someone will have to climb up the tree every so often to take out the old lamp and put in a new one. Make sure you have a way of maintaining the fixtures before you install them.

The second consideration is the means of fastening the fixtures. You must use fasteners that are constructed of stainless steel or cadmium-plated steel. Never use brass or copper fasteners in a tree. Brass and copper oxidize over time, poisoning the tree. The fasteners should also be adjustable to allow for growth, upward and outward.

Care should be taken when aiming the fixtures to eliminate direct glare from the lamp; long directional shrouds should never be used. Consider also that the tree may lose its leaves in the fall.

Since trees come in all shapes and sizes, there are several ways to enhance them. You will not want to light an evergreen the same way you light a chestnut tree.

Nida Lighting was established by Dean Nida as a full service holiday lighting company serving central Ohio in 1988. Today the company designs and manufactures the holiday displays with customers in 44 states and Canada. For more information visit nidagroup.com.

Here are some tips for lighting various types of trees from the ground:

• Conifers (conical evergreens): Conifers have dense and narrow foliage. Place the fixture(s) away from the base and aim light toward the top of the tree.
• Flowering deciduous trees (dogwood, fruit, etc.): As with the conifers, place the fixtures away from the base and aim toward the top. Their beauty is at the tips of their branches where the blossoms and fruit grow.
• Deciduous, dense canopy (oak, maple, chestnut, etc.): Place fixtures along the outer edges to focus light into the foliage. These trees have interesting bark and elaborate branch structures. Use more than one fixture to highlight these areas.
• Deciduous, open canopy (birch, walnut, palms): These open canopies and palms can be grazed with light from underneath. Place the fixture(s) close to the base of the tree.

Tree Facts

43,530 – Number of tree trimmers and pruners in the United States in 2002.

88.5% – Percentage of tree trimmers who service buildings and dwellings.

Source: www.bls.gov