Is it safe to use your traditional style icicle Christmas string lights

[Baitball Blogger]

to border the edges of the lawn?

I have seen this done and it looks pretty spectacular, but only seeing this once at a private party, it's hard to determine if it is safe for the weeks before and after Christmas.

We do have some old traditional lights that we will either donate, or use for this effect if no one has any inside info suggesting otherwise.

Any opinions?

[Marthe48]

1. How did they have them strung?

Were they laying flat on the ground? Or did the people suspend them from posts or wires strung between posts? I imagine if you are using outdoor lights, waterproof your connections and make sure they aren't tripping hazards, you should be able to use them as a border. Hope it works out for you!

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Flat on the ground.

Waterproofing the connections makes sense. And, as I said before, they are old Even when they were hanging they would flake out under a heavy rain.

[Marthe48]

3. Sounds interesting

When those kinds of lights first came out, I thought they were wonderful. If you lay them out flat, I'd just make sure they are within your property line, and protected from shorts if they get wet.

I learned recently that some of the strings of lights have fuses in the plug. If the whole string is dead, you can check that fuse. There is a tiny port you can open, and trade out the fuse for one from a string you know is working. You can get replacement fuses at hardware stores.

[Lochloosa]

4. If they are plugged into a GFIC receptacle they should be fine.

All outdoor Christmas lights should be protected by a GFIC receptacle or breaker.

If your house is less than 20 years old they most likely would be.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Good point!

[Donkees]

6. Squirrels are known to chew Christmas lights/wires, especially if you make it easy for them

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Tree rat!