Guide to lighting a fir tree

Some preliminary notes on tree lighting

Fir trees are often very tall and, in season, have dense foliage. For this reason, they require a careful choice of lighting system and a tailor-made design in order to perform at their best.

There are several factors to consider when lighting a tree in the garden.

• Light points. Plants, particularly if they are very tall, must receive the right amount of light to be highlighted - without, however, overshadowing other decorative garden or architectural elements in the house.
• Size. There is a big difference between lighting a fir, and a Christmas tree, of 210 cm and a smaller one. The environment in which the fir is placed - from the living room to the garden - also plays a key role to consider.
• The trunk and foliage. Depending on whether the trunk is thin or massive, smooth or twisted, lighting can be chosen to enhance this character or not. The same applies to the foliage: fir trees generally have a rather thick foliage, albeit with their characteristic small needles; lights can therefore either illuminate them diffusely from the outside or ‘creep’ into them to create a kind of backlighting from within the foliage - very popular, for example, at Christmas time.

How to light a fir tree

What, then, is the best solution for lighting one's fir tree? There is no single answer, of course. You have to design the best system on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the height and size of the fir, its position in the garden, and its foliage. However, there are some systems and solutions that can be considered when lighting a fir tree.

Floor lighting

Floor systems, as well as projectors and washers, lend themselves well to lighting even tall trees (but not excessively so). These systems can in fact be placed on the ground with a certain flexibility and possibility of movement; the projectors remain visible but, with models that are now increasingly robust and elegant, this will not be a problem, on the contrary; they will bring added value. Recessed luminaires, on the other hand, are concealed in the ground; they can also possibly be covered with foliage, or even snow. However, being placed on the ground, they may be less easy to move than projectors.

In fact, when the tree has grown, it will then only be necessary to move or shift the washer/projector to adjust the distance and continue to maintain optimal lighting.

Choose location

If you want to evenly illuminate the crown of a fir tree (and a large tree in general), the advice is to install 3 luminaires at an angle of 120° apart, illuminating the crown from a certain distance so that the tree can stand out from all angles. 

Light distribution

Modern lighting systems are often available with LED technologies that allow for different light distributions to suit whatever type of tree and lighting is desired.

• A narrower light distribution is ideal for creating high-impact lighting that emphasises a particular element. This is often referred to as narrow spot (approx. 8°) and spot (approx. 10°-20°) distribution.
• In order to achieve homogenous illumination, a wide-beam light distribution is required. These are called flood (approx. 30°), wide flood (approx. 50°) or extra wide flood (approx. 90°). In this way, even trees with the widest and thickest foliage can be illuminated, even from a close position. 

Resistant systems!

Like all lighting systems designed for outdoors, they must withstand all weather and time. For this reason they must have a high degree of protection. We recommend choosing, for example, projectors, washer and wallwashers with IP65 protection - like many of those offered by Amlux. This acronym indicates a high degree of protection; the systems are dust-tight and protected against splash water. 

Recessed floor luminaires can go up to IP68, to withstand even the consequences of continuous immersion.

Tips for lighting fir trees at Christmas

A special case of lighting concerns the Christmas fir. One of the most famous and renowned traditions in Italy and around the world. But how do you get the best lighting for the Christmas fir?

First of all, again, we consider the proportions and size of the tree. Generally, lights are arranged in a spiral, so that the tree is evenly illuminated by lights placed ‘on its crown’. If it is a very large Christmas fir, i.e. 180 cm and upwards, it must be remembered that more space must be left between one set of bulbs and the next, in order to maintain homogeneous and non-invasive lighting.

The best solution for decorating your Christmas tree outdoors is probably the choice of LED lights. Thanks to Twinkly pro's black or transparent catenary or braid lights, you can choose from a huge range of configurations and possibilities, Christmas lights in different sizes, with higher or lower light density and differences between warm, cold or neutral light. Plus:

• If you want the tree to be very bright, you can choose a set in which the bulbs are very close together and emit light in all directions.
• And don't forget the colour of the cable: choose a set with green wire if you have a green Christmas tree, while if the tree is white the cable should be transparent.

Of course, the considerations made for fir trees in general always apply. Projectors and washer can also be available with different lenses and colours to project colours onto the tree from different points and angles in the garden.

The solution? Amlux has it!

Amlux designs and supplies a complete range of lighting solutions for outdoor spaces: gardens, trees, and specific systems for plants of all sizes; including firs of course.

Some products that are particularly suitable for fir lighting are:

• The 12P Hex IP projector is an outdoor projector with IP65 (i.e. weatherproof) protection with 12 x 12-Watt LEDs. With a 30° beam angle, it can produce large wash effects with a homogeneous colour mix thanks to 63 integrated macro colours using red, green, blue, amber, white and UV. A perfect solution for outdoor lighting of firs and large trees (also for the Christmas period).

• Spotlight Wash 32 LED RGBWA+UV, a multi-function LED projector with architectural wash effect / blinder / colour strobe for indoor and outdoor use (IP65). It also includes a removable magnetic jelly filter to add a filter for varying the beam width, it is a high level solution for outdoor lighting that can be fully customised.
• There are also many different lighting systems available for decorations and ornaments, many solutions for furnishing and decorating outdoor areas with proper lighting and also enriching Christmas fir trees, e.g. with colourful and durable LED strips.

Should you need further information on fir lighting systems, or if you are looking for advice on your outdoor lighting project, please do not hesitate to send us your doubts and questions via the form in the contact section. We will respond as soon as possible!