You’re not the only one feeling the stress of the holiday season. Decorating your outdoor trees can damage them if you don’t put Christmas lights on properly. Here are a few tips to keep your trees thriving:

If you’re wrapping branches in lights, select branches that are at least an inch in diameter. Young branches have more delicate bark and can break easily. Bark damage this time of the year may not show up right away, but those minor nicks and breaks could be a gateway to rot and other issues during the growing season.

Tree trunks will expand when new growth begins in the spring so make sure to take off the lights before the warm weather returns.

Their classic Christmas tree shape is much easier to decorate with lights because they maintain their leaves and they have a symmetrical shape that’s wider at the bottom than on top. The lights can be gently secured with electrical tape and do not have to be wrapped around the branches on these trees.

Lighted ornaments are a great way for your trees to glisten without the effort and risks that come with wrapping tree branches in lights. Select branches that can support their weight and hang ornaments on the interior of deciduous trees so they don’t fall off the tree during snow storms or windy days.

Thank you to Nick Bates, an arborist with Davey Trees for collaborating on the tips in this week’s Garden Guide.