If you want your lights up and enjoyed for the whole season, the most important step is booking early. At Green Earth, our Christmas light installs start November 2 this year, and our early booking slots usually start filling by the first week of November. If you call now, you can still get on the schedule early.
We have installed more than 500 Christmas lighting systems since we started, for homes across Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, Bartlett and the greater Memphis area. This guide answers the questions we hear most: when to book, how the process works, what drives the cost, what happens at takedown, and what goes wrong when people do it themselves. If you already know you want help, see our Christmas light installation in Memphis page.
When Should You Book Christmas Light Installation?
The biggest worry we hear on the phone is timing. People want to know they will get on the schedule early enough to actually enjoy their lights, instead of waiting until we have an opening late in the season.
Here is how our season usually runs:
- Installs start November 2 this year.
- Early booking slots start filling by the first week of November.
- Our crews keep going until every install is finished in December.
- The latest we have installed a system so far is December 20.
Believe it or not, people still call and ask for installs in the second week of December. We will do our best to fit you in, but the earlier you call, the more of the season you get to enjoy.
How Our Christmas Light Installation Process Works
Step 1: A quick call or the contact form
It starts with a phone call or a message through our website. From there, we send you package options so you can see what is possible for your home.
Step 2: A free Christmas light design
Every system starts with a free Christmas light design. Most of our designs are done from listing photos of the home, like the ones on realtor.com, which lets us turn around a design and quote fast, usually in under 24 hours. If you would rather meet in person, we are happy to do a walkthrough at the property.
Your ideas are always welcome. If you have a look in mind, tell us, and we will tailor the design around you and your home.
Step 3: Install day
On install day, our crew lays out the wire runs and cuts each lighting run to length for your house. The first year always takes more work on a new system, because everything is custom fit to that property.
Step 4: Enjoy the season
Once your lights are up, you just enjoy them. Your lights are set on timers, so they come on and go off without you thinking about it. We have a few control options: some systems use Wi-Fi control, and others use standard timers.
If a section goes out or wind knocks something loose during the season, it happens occasionally, and we generally just come out and fix it.
Step 5: Takedown and storage
When the season is over, we take the lights down for you. Takedown starts January 4.
If you own your lights, you can store them at home, or we can store them at our facility for a small fee.
Why the First Year Is Different From Every Year After
You buy the lights and materials up front, so you own them. Your lights are custom fit to your property and the same system is reused every year. The first year costs more because the materials are bought and every run is cut to fit your home. After that, each year is just the labor to install and take down the same system.
Your design does double duty here. We use it to label every wire run, and it becomes a set of instructions for the following years. That means year two and beyond go up the same clean way they did the first time, without starting over.
That is also why so many of our customers stay with us. One of our first customers, about 12 years ago, is still on our schedule. We still install and take down their lights every year.
What Homeowners Ask For Most
Across Germantown, Collierville and Memphis, the most requested feature is roofline lighting. Clean, even lines along the roof make the biggest difference from the street. Wreaths are the next most popular, especially on the front of the house and over the entry.
The lights and hardware we use
These are the pieces you will see called out on our design renderings:
- C9 LED bulbs in warm white along the rooflines
- 5mm LED lights in warm white for shrubs, trees and beds
- Pre-lit garland with warm white LEDs for porches, columns and entries
- 36-inch pre-lit wreaths
- Roofline clips that hold each run in a clean, even line
- Plastic ground stakes for lights along walks and beds
Your design shows which of these go where on your house before anything is installed.
What Drives the Cost of Christmas Lights
Every home is different, so we quote each one from its own design. The two biggest cost drivers are simple:
- Size of the install. A larger display needs more materials, and more materials mean more labor.
- Second-story work. Lighting the second story adds the most time to an install.
The free design shows you exactly what you are getting before you commit, so there are no guesses about what goes where. If you are also thinking about year-round lighting for your landscape, our outdoor lighting cost guide explains what goes into a permanent system.
Common DIY Christmas Light Mistakes
After more than 500 systems, we see the same DIY problems over and over:
- Generic store-bought lights. Big-box strands are not built to last the way professional-quality lights are. Good lights last for years.
- Dangerous connections. One of the most common problems we find is wires grounding out on gutters, which is a real safety risk.
- Poor planning. Without experience, it is hard to lay out a display that fits the house. Planning the layout before anything goes on the roof is what makes a display look right.
For more on why so many homeowners hand this job to a pro, read about the benefits of professional Christmas lighting.
Do HOA Rules Get in the Way?
In our experience, no. We install dozens of HOA lighting systems every year, and HOA guidelines have never gotten in the way. If your neighborhood has rules, mention them when you reach out and we will keep the design within them.
Want Holiday Color All Year? Consider ZDC Landscape Lighting
More of our customers are asking about ZDC lighting, which stands for zone, dim and color. Systems like FX Luminaire, which we install, are getting more popular because the landscape lights can change color. You can set them to any color you want for different holidays or events, like red and green for Christmas or the colors of a special event.
ZDC is not a replacement for seasonal Christmas lights. It is a year-round option that works alongside them. Your Christmas lights go up and come down each season, while a ZDC system stays in the landscape and changes with the calendar. If that sounds like a fit, learn more about our landscape lighting in Memphis.
Commercial Christmas Lighting
We also light businesses, HOA common areas and other commercial properties. The process is the same: a free design, a scheduled install, help during the season, and takedown when it is over. Learn more about our Christmas light installation in Memphis.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Green Earth start installing Christmas lights?
Installs start November 2 this year, and our crews keep going until everything is finished in December. Early slots start filling by the first week of November, so the sooner you reach out, the better.
Is it too late to book Christmas lights in December?
Not always. Our latest install so far was December 20. But slots get tight as the season goes on, so calling early gives you the best chance of enjoying your lights all season.
Do I have to meet you at the house for a design?
No. Most of our designs are done from listing photos of the home, like the ones on realtor.com. You can also send your own house photos through our contact form. If you prefer, we are happy to do a walkthrough in person.
How fast will I get a design and quote?
Usually in under 24 hours. Sending photos of your house helps us get started even faster.
What happens if a section of lights goes out?
It happens occasionally, usually from wind or weather. We generally come out and fix it.
Do you take the lights down and store them?
Yes. Takedown starts January 4. If you own your lights, you can keep them at home, or we can store them at our facility for a small fee.
Why does the first year cost more?
The first year costs more because you buy the lights and materials, and everything is custom fit to your home. You own them, and the same system is reused every year. After that, each year is just the labor to install and take down the same labeled system, using your design as the instructions.
Are the lights on a timer?
Yes. Every system is set on timers. Some use Wi-Fi control and others use standard timers.
Will my HOA allow it?
We install dozens of HOA lighting systems every year, and HOA guidelines have never gotten in the way.
See Your House Lit Up This Christmas
If you are on the fence, here is what we tell people. Once you see your house lit up, and see the smiles on your family's faces, you will know it was worth it. It is one of the easiest ways to get into the Christmas spirit.
The best way to get started is our contact form. Send us a few photos of your house so we can start on your free design, and we will have a design and quote back to you, usually in under 24 hours. You can also call us at (901) 657-3614, or read more about our Christmas lighting service first.
Green Earth LLC
1183 Midas Cove, Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 657-3614
