Across North America there are grand trees that grace properties with their presence. Some of these specimens have been around for over 100 years. Imagine the history that has surrounded them and the stories they could tell. When illuminating these trees, there are specific points to consider. In this article, we will look at some of these considerations.
The styles of grand trees can vary from region to region. In the South and Southwest, we can find a variety of different palm trees that can reach more than 60 feet in height. These trees can be illuminated from the ground or with a tree ring. Most of the time, one would start off with a narrow flood light or a narrow spotlight to reach the top of these trees. A tree ring can allow one to light up and down by placing multiple fixtures around the outside.
In other areas of the country, we find oak trees, walnuts, pine, eucalyptus and other varieties. Well-pruned trees are easier to light from the ground. That is not to say one cannot put lights up into the arms of the tree to illuminate more of the facets of it.
When illuminating trees that are sensitive to night lighting, a good practice is to control them in a separate zone.
When you consider the color of the tree itself, it will help you determine the Kelvin temperature or color you wish to light with. Until you become proficient, it is best to visit the property in the evening and practice with different Kelvin temperatures to see what works on different trees.
Recently, I worked with a contractor in Northern California who used amber LED lamps to illuminate redwood trees. It brought out a lot of red in the bark and provided a different look that pleased the customer.
It’s not wrong to mix the Kelvin temperatures on a project. A blue spruce tree may need to be lit at a cooler temperature to bring out the blue color and make it look natural. Large oak trees may be best with 2700K or 3000K. This will also be determined by the customer’s preferences. Remember, lighting is subjective, so what you like may not be what your customer does.
Viewing these large trees, one will be able to determine the actual illumination viewpoints from different directions.
For instance, if you have a circular driveway and there is a grand tree in the middle of the yard, you may need to illuminate that from several different points. A fixture with wider beam angles may need to be placed on the outer areas of the tree to illuminate all sides. Fixtures with narrower beams may need to be placed closer to illuminate the center and the trunk. If the tree is backed up against the forest line, you may only need to illuminate that from the front.
When walking around the property with your client, ask questions about where they would like to see that illumination occur.
Some trees, such as blue spruce, should not be illuminated all night long. It is important to be educated on the photosynthesis of all types of plant material that we illuminate.
When illuminating trees that are sensitive to night lighting, a good practice is to control them in a separate zone. Right now, several manufacturers make Wi-Fi controllers and transformers with this capability. These units can be used to schedule zones for tree areas to shut off earlier in the night, thus protecting the tree and allowing natural photosynthesis to occur.
All trees are either evergreen or deciduous. Evergreen trees will keep their leaves the entire year while deciduous trees will lose their leaves at certain times of the year. With deciduous trees, one can obtain two different looks: one during the winter and one during the summer.
I have recently seen people using RGBW and color-correlated temperature lamps and fixtures. This allows the property owner to create festive looks for large trees during different seasons. For instance, if you had a white birch or aspen, then a color-changing lamp or fixture could give you a totally different look for the holiday season. Once the holiday is over, the light could be changed back to the white color desired.
These are just some examples of things to look for when you are illuminating these grand trees. I wish you an incredible year of outstanding lighting.
