Cooperative Living October 2021 - 24

FixerUpper | Story and photo courtesy of StatePoint Media
Fall is one
An Illuminating Idea
How to hang string lights in your backyard
S
a
o, you've created the backyard of
your dreams and love everything
about it, except that seeing your
surroundings can be
of the best
ce your back
surroundings can be a chalchallengelenge once
the sun has gone down. As the days
fall,
once
the sun has gone down. As the days
has gone down. As the days
horter and we head into
ile hiring som
cost-effectiv
grow shorter and we head into fall,
it's one of the best times of year to
enhance your backyard life at night.
While hiring someone to install
outdoor lighting can be expensive
all, you can create a
patterns.
In
In a recent episo
Weekend Projects "
outdoor lighting can be expensive
simple,is mple, cost-effective solution. Best of
our style using any number of
and involved, patio string lights are a
hile hiring someone to install
or lighting ca
volved, patio
ll, you can create a look that reflects
yyour style using an
ecent episode of " Done-In-Aeekend
Projects " called " Light Up
Your Life, " expert landscape designer
our Life, " exper landscape designer
Doug Scott demonstrated how to hang
string lights. Here are his steps for
adding fun, personality and light to
your outdoor living and dining spaces:
1. Determine how long your string
lights need to be and how many
strands you'll require. The only other
m materials needed
for this project
re
appropri
as
2. You'l
(such
(such as cup hooks or a similar
ou'll want to sketch your
sketch
design to
your
design to make sure you capture
what you
re you capture
what you're going for and to ensure
ppurchasing the correct number an
what you're going for and to ensure
re going for and to ensu
urchasing the correct number and
lengthslengths of lights and hooks. For
more relaxed look, use a crisscros
of lights and hooks. For a
m
ore relaxed look, use a crisscross
or free-form pattern. For a more
u uniform look, simply hang lights
across the center or around the
perimeter of the space.
" Regardless, just make sur yo
" Regardless, just make sure your
design represents you and how you
want to live outside, " says Scott.
3. When measuring your lights,
be sure to add a few feet on each pass
to allow for slack. One other thing
to consider is whether you'll be able
niform look, simply hang lights
or-grade hardware
or
fastener) and possibly an extension
fastener) and possibly an extension
cord.
ibly an extension
aterials needed for this project are
appropriate, outdoor-grade hardware
(such as cup hooks or a simisimilarlar
fastener)
of the best times
of the year to
enhance your
backyard life
at night.
to make light connections in discreet
places, ideally where they connect to
the wall, post or a tree.
" Having
" Having a connection in
middle of a swag won't
of the world,
middle of
o
be
4.
all
minimize this as much as possible, "
says Scott.ott.
minimizeim nimize this as much as possible, "
iddle of a swag won't be the end
f the world, but you'll want to
this as much as pos
swag won' be the end
connection in the
the
f the world, but you'll want to
but you'll want
Install your hooks according
your hooks accor
to your plan. Then, hang your llightsights
with the bulbs removed to decrease
plan. Then, hang your
bulbs removed to decrease
your chances of breaking them. Make
sure that your first strand reaches an
outlet, or you have an extension cord
that will. Once you're satisfied with
hances of breaking them. Make
at your first strand reaches an
or you have an extension cord
ll. Once you're satisfied with
neral look, install one bulb in
is good, install
your general look, install one bulb in
rand to test that everything is
working properly. If alalll is good, install
each strand to test that everything is
working properly If
the rest of the bulbs, light them up,
then kick back and enjoy.
With a few supplies and a little
creativity, brightening your backyard
and enhancing your backyard life at
night can be a simple DIY project. 
A free downloadable guide from Exmark,
which provides helpful illustrations and brief
descriptions of five commonly used string
light patterns, can be found by visiting
exmark.com/backyard. There, you can also
access other original video series, including
" Prime Cuts " and " Dream Yards. "
22 | Cooperative Living | October 2021
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http://www.exmark.com/backyard http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living October 2021

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