Crepe Myrtles and Young Trees: Lighting the Smaller Trees in Newer Neighborhoods
Newer sections of Cypress don’t have the towering oaks and pines of older Houston neighborhoods yet. What they do have are crepe myrtles by the driveway, young live oaks planted by the builder, and ornamental trees in front beds. Those smaller trees are some of the best holiday canvases on the property, as long as they’re lit in a way that suits their shape and leaves them healthy for spring.
Crepe myrtles: show off the branches
By December, crepe myrtles have dropped their leaves, leaving smooth, multi-trunk branches that twist upward like a vase. That bare structure is what makes them so striking lit up. Wrapping each trunk and the main branches with closely spaced lights traces the tree’s shape against the dark, and the effect is far more dramatic than draping lights over the top.
- Wrap each trunk separately, from the ground up, at even spacing.
- Continue up the main branches, not every small twig.
- Stop below the thinnest tips, where lights would weigh down new growth.
Young live oaks: keep wraps loose
Builder-planted live oaks in new sections are often only a few years old, with thin trunks still growing quickly. Wrapping them is fine as long as nothing is tight. Strands should rest around the trunk and limbs loosely, held with soft ties rather than wire or anything that cuts. Lights wrapped tightly on a young tree can constrict it as it grows. Nothing should ever be nailed or stapled into the bark.
Ornamental and evergreen trees
Hollies, magnolias and small evergreens near the entry keep their leaves through winter, so the effect is different: lights draped or netted over the outside of the canopy make them glow as a single shape. These work well flanking a front door or at the end of a walkway.
Using small trees to add height
On a two-story home, the roofline is the tallest element. On many Cypress homes, the front yard is wide and the trees are small, so the display can feel top-heavy. A row of lit crepe myrtles along the drive or a pair of wrapped trees at the entry pulls light down to eye level and fills the space between the street and the house.
Street trees and the parkway
Many newer neighborhoods have trees planted in the strip between the sidewalk and the street, or in common areas maintained by the HOA. Before wrapping one, confirm whether it’s on your lot or belongs to the association; check your association’s guidelines. If it’s yours, lighting a street tree carries the display out to the curb. Keep cords from crossing the sidewalk, routing them along the curb side of the strip or skipping that tree if power can’t reach it safely.
Bulb size and color
Mini lights suit small trees: their tighter spacing traces branches cleanly where big bulbs would look clumsy. Warm white wraps look elegant and match most rooflines; colored wraps on crepe myrtles can be a fun focal point, especially if the rest of the house stays white.
Year-round, too
If you love how your trees look lit in December, landscape uplighting can show them off all year. Crepe myrtles are especially beautiful uplit in summer bloom. See our tree uplighting page for year-round ideas, including homes in Towne Lake.
How Majestic holiday lighting works
You buy your lights from Majestic and pay for installation labor; from year two on, you pay labor only, because the lights are already yours. Our lifetime warranty on Christmas lighting products means any broken parts are replaced each year you sign up for installation, including the small strands on tree wraps that see the most wear. A 65% deposit reserves your install date. Calendars fill in November, so book early. See Christmas light installation in Cypress.
Small tree questions
Can you put Christmas lights on a crepe myrtle?
Yes. Wrapping the bare trunks and main branches shows off their shape beautifully.
Will lights hurt a young tree?
Not when wraps are loose and held with soft ties, with nothing nailed into the bark.
Should small trees get big bulbs or mini lights?
Mini lights trace small branches more cleanly.
How many trees should I light?
A matching pair at the entry or a row along the drive is often enough.