Plan Your Christmas Garden Display

Before you buy anything, look at your garden from the street and from inside the house:

Not sure how many lights you need? See our guide to the best outdoor Christmas lights, which includes a simple calculation per tree, roofline and railing.

12 Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Garden

Christmas Porch Decorations

Christmas porch decorations set the tone for the whole display. To decorate the porch:

• Frame the door: a wreath on the door and garland along the frame or railing.
• Add height on both sides: two matching porch pots or small potted trees make the entrance feel balanced.
• Light it up: wrap the garland with warm-white lights and add lanterns on the steps, leaving the walking area clear.
• Keep it safe: steps, handrails and the doormat area must stay clear and well lit.

For decorating ideas that carry over from fall, see our outdoor Halloween decorations; the same hooks and outlets work for your Christmas porch decorations.

How to Make Winter Porch Pots

Winter porch pots filled with fresh evergreens are one of the most popular ways to decorate your garden for Christmas, and they last well into the new year:

Use the thriller, filler and spiller method: tall branches in the center, full greenery around them and trailing cedar or pine over the edge.

How to Light Your Garden for Christmas

• Trees: wrap trunks and main branches in a loose spiral for a warm glow; do not wrap living branches tightly.
• Roofline: curtain or icicle lights on gutter clips frame the house.
• Shrubs: net lights cover hedges and round shrubs evenly.
• Paths: lanterns or stake lights guide visitors to the door.
• Timer: set lights to switch on at dusk and off at bedtime.

Compare LED, classic and smart light sets in our guide to the best outdoor Christmas lights, which also explains how to hang outdoor Christmas lights safely.

Natural Christmas Garden Decorations

Your own garden provides some of the best Christmas garden decorations:

• Evergreen clippings: light pruning of holly, boxwood and conifers gives you free greenery.
• Pine cones and seed heads: in pots, on the table or tied to garland.
• Berries: winterberry and other berried branches add red accents; many also feed birds.
• Branches: birch and red-twig dogwood stems add height to pots and vases.

Only cut from healthy plants, and avoid collecting from invasive species. Tap out seeds before using wild material, so it does not spread in your garden.

Decorating the Patio for Christmas

With a few changes, the patio becomes a festive place for a winter drink with family and friends:

• Hang string lights over the patio or pergola.
• Add weatherproof cushions, blankets and lanterns.
• Put a small potted evergreen with lights in a corner.
• Add warmth with a patio heater, always within the clearances in its manual.

For more ideas to use your patio in the cold months, read our tips to enjoy your patio during winter.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations for Small Gardens and Balconies

You do not need a large yard for outdoor Christmas decorations. In a small garden or on a balcony:

• Go vertical: hang a wreath, garland or string lights on a wall, railing or trellis.
• Use one statement pot: a single winter porch pot or a small potted evergreen with lights makes more impact than many small items.
• Choose battery or solar lights where there is no outdoor outlet; many have a built-in timer.
• Keep it secure: tie down lightweight decorations on a balcony so wind cannot blow them off.

Eco-Friendly Christmas Garden Decorations

Christmas garden decorations can be festive and kind to the environment:

• Choose LED lights: they use much less power than incandescent sets and last longer; see our outdoor Christmas lights guide.
• Use a timer so lights only burn in the evening.
• Decorate with natural materials you can compost afterward, such as evergreen clippings, pine cones and dried orange slices.
• Feed the birds: garlands of seeds, apple slices and cranberries give winter birds extra food; avoid salted or sugary treats.
• Reuse: store decorations carefully so they last for many seasons.

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Safety Tips

Safety is part of every good plan to decorate your garden for Christmas. ESFI and the CPSC recommend:

• Use only lights, extension cords and decorations marked for outdoor use.
• Plug outdoor decorations into GFCI-protected outlets and do not overload outlets.
• Inspect lights and cords for damage before use; throw away damaged sets.
• Keep cords and connections clear of snow and standing water.
• Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder, and stay at least 10 feet away from power lines.
• Turn off outdoor decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

After the Holidays: Take Down and Store

• Unclip lights instead of pulling them, wind them loosely and store them dry.
• Put evergreen branches from porch pots on perennial beds as a light winter cover, or compost them.
• Plant a living potted tree in the garden once the ground can be worked, or keep it in its pot in a sheltered spot.
• Check trees and shrubs for lights or ties you may have missed; wire left on living branches can cut into bark.

Winter is also a good time to check the rest of your garden; see our checklist to winterize your garden. Choosing between a real and an artificial tree? Read natural or artificial Christmas tree.

Frequently Asked Questions