Toward the end of the year, many people work on another type of outdoor-lighting project: holiday lights. Several options are available, but safety should be your main concern. Check the tag on the lights to make sure they're rated for outdoor use before you install them. Icicle lights (figure A) are becoming very popular. If you use them, don't string several strands together and plug them into one outlet: you could blow a fuse within the lights. Instead, use several outlets.
Many lights come in special shapes--for example, chili-pepper (figure B), pinecone (figure C) and rose lights (figure D).
Standard Christmas lights (figure E) are still popular. If you use them, keep in mind that they're much hotter than twinkle lights.
When you connect lights, secure all the connections with electrical tape. Stretch the tape tightly to create a waterproof seal. If you use an extension cord (be sure it's rated for outdoor use) on the ground, use some stiff bent wires (figure F ) to stake it to the ground so people don't trip over it.
Save yourself some time by plotting your landscaping to determine where to place your lights. Also, check your lights to be sure they're working before you install them; otherwise, you may be using your ladder a lot more than you had intended.
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