If you aren’t a procrastinator and your gardens are cleaned up and plants are tucked in for the coming cold weather, you’re probably looking for something to do this weekend. So why not take advantage of the clement temperatures and get a head start on winter by hanging your Christmas lights? These beautiful, late fall days are perfect for getting a jump on outdoor holiday decorating. There’s no rule that says they need to be lit right away and it’s so much easier to put them up now.

The moderate temps mean that both your fingers and those cords will stay flexible and the ladder rungs won’t get slippery! And since few things are more frustrating than hanging lights only to find that a string or two isn’t lighting, be sure to test your lights first to make sure that everything is in good working order. Need some replacements? We know that many of you are still holding on to those incandescent strings, but we feel strongly that it’s time to make the switch to LED.

Let’s eliminate a lot of the hand wringing and present the facts. Most everyone agrees that LED lights are the more practical choice, but why? LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode. Rather than filaments to produce light, diodes are semi-conductors that glow when voltage is applied. So we’ll start with them. LED lights…

• appear brighter than incandescent lights, especially in pure and warm white.
• are easily installed as you can connect many more strings in a series, using fewer extension cords.
• use up to 90% less energy.
• lamps will last much longer than incandescent lamps.
• are constructed of non-breakable poly-carbonate plastic.
• are cool to the touch.
• now come in so many shapes and forms from mini rice lights to old-fashioned looking C7s and C9s.

But there are a few minuses. You’ll find that LED lights…

• are a still more expensive to purchase.
• are susceptible to power surges, so use a surge protector.
• performance can be affected by standard timers, especially in cold temperatures, so it’s a good idea to invest in timers that are LED compatible.

As a bonus, the developing technology of LED light strings offer all kinds of really cool features from mode functions to color mixing. We’re especially excited about the new colors and flip features on some of our trees and strings.

Despite the well-deserved reputation of LEDs, incandescent lights have many pluses. Incandescents…

• are more economical, though the price of LED technology has become much more affordable.
• often provide a warmer, richer color.
• are available in a wide variety of bulb shapes. string lengths and wire colors.
• are made with lamps that are easily replaced.

There are drawbacks though. As a user, you…

• can break the lamps as they are made with glass.
• must limit the number of connected strings to three.
• can be more difficult to source as manufacturers are certainly committed to developing LED technology.
• can overload household breakers, though you’d be hanging a lot of lights to do this.

Now that you’re in possession of all of the facts and figures, surely you should be able to make an informed decision. Right? Well, if you’re still on the fence, stop into the Garden Center and a Holiday Associate can help you tip the scale.