Lighting up a tree or hedge is a lovely way to bring a bit of Christmas magic into the garden. We’ve picked six outdoor sets, including strings to wind around trees, nets for covering hedges evenly and a solar option for somewhere without a nearby socket.
Before choosing, measure the area you’d like to light and check where the plug or solar panel will go. You’ll find options for doors, rooflines and patios in our outdoor Christmas lights guide, plus advice on ratings and power supplies in our guide to choosing outdoor lights safely.
Our six picks
Best flexible string for a tree
Ollny 20m 200 LED Warm White Outdoor Fairy Lights
A single 20m dark-green string is easy to wind through branches without the dense look of cluster lights.
Best fuller glow on a compact tree
Twinkle Star 10m 500 LED Warm White Cluster Lights
Five hundred LEDs sit along a shorter 10m lit run, so the effect is fuller than an ordinary fairy-light string.
Best for a low hedge
Gresonic 2.5m x 1.8m Warm White Net Lights
A net covers a fairly even hedge face without winding a long string around every branch.
Best for a medium-length hedge
Abkshine 4m × 2m Warm White Net Lights
At 4m wide, this net covers more hedge than the smaller Gresonic without the SAILUN’s 4m drop.
Best for a broad hedge
SAILUN 6m x 4m Warm White Net Lights
A wide net can cover a long, regular hedge in one piece instead of joining several smaller sets.
Best where a socket is awkward
Electight 20m 200 LED Solar Fairy Lights
The separate solar panel avoids running a mains cable across the garden to a tree.
Compare the six sets
| Light set | Best for | Lit size | Lead or panel | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ollny 20m 200 LED Warm White Outdoor Fairy Lights | flexible string for a tree | 20m | 3m | Mains |
| Twinkle Star 10m 500 LED Warm White Cluster Lights | fuller glow on a compact tree | 10m | 10m | Mains |
| Gresonic 2.5m x 1.8m Warm White Net Lights | for a low hedge | 2.5m × 1.8m net | 10m | Mains |
| Abkshine 4m × 2m Warm White Net Lights | for a medium-length hedge | 4m × 2m net | 3m | Mains |
| SAILUN 6m x 4m Warm White Net Lights | for a broad hedge | 6m × 4m net | Not clearly stated | Mains |
| Electight 20m 200 LED Solar Fairy Lights | where a socket is awkward | 20m | Solar panel | Solar |
On a phone, swipe across the comparison. Sizes and specifications come from current product information, not our own measurements. Stock and details can change.
A closer look at each set
Best flexible string for a tree
1. Ollny 20m 200 LED Warm White Outdoor Fairy Lights
The Ollny set has 200 warm-white LEDs along 20m of dark-green cable, with a separate 3m lead. That makes it a sensible starting point for a tree you want to see lit through the branches rather than covered in a solid glow. It has eight modes, a remote and an IP44 rating for the lights. Measure the route back to the power supply before you buy: the lit section cannot make up for a short lead.
Choose it if: A single 20m dark-green string is easy to wind through branches without the dense look of cluster lights.
Consider instead: The 3m lead may not reach an indoor socket from a tree further into the garden.
Best fuller glow on a compact tree
2. Twinkle Star 10m 500 LED Warm White Cluster Lights
Choose the 10m Twinkle Star cluster set if you want a more noticeable glow without making repeated passes around a smaller tree. The exact 500 LED warm-white variant has a separate 10m power cable, remote control and IP44-rated lights. A cluster string takes more care to spread evenly through branches than a plain string, and the 10m lit length is not the same as the 20m total cable.
Choose it if: Five hundred LEDs sit along a shorter 10m lit run, so the effect is fuller than an ordinary fairy-light string.
Consider instead: The dense spacing can look busy on a very small tree; check the transformer location before installing.
Best for a low hedge
3. Gresonic 2.5m x 1.8m Warm White Net Lights
The Gresonic net has 320 warm-white LEDs across a 2.5m by 1.8m mesh, plus a separate 10m power cable. Drape it over a fairly regular hedge or shrub rather than stretching it taut over an uneven shape. The listing marks the lights IP44, but check the supplied instructions before deciding where the transformer and connections can go.
Choose it if: A net covers a fairly even hedge face without winding a long string around every branch.
Consider instead: The 1.8m drop may still be too deep for a low hedge; measure its visible face before ordering.
Best for a medium-length hedge
4. Abkshine 4m × 2m Warm White Net Lights
The Abkshine net spreads 300 warm-white LEDs across 4m by 2m, with a separate 3m lead. It could suit a medium-length, fairly even hedge where the smaller Gresonic would stop short. The seller marks the lights IP44; check the instructions for where the plug, transformer and connections may go.
Choose it if: At 4m wide, this net covers more hedge than the smaller Gresonic without the SAILUN’s 4m drop.
Consider instead: Its 3m lead is shorter than Gresonic’s, so check the route to a suitable socket.
Best for a broad hedge
5. SAILUN 6m x 4m Warm White Net Lights
This SAILUN variant puts 480 warm-white LEDs on a 6m by 4m net. It suits a broad, even hedge or a large section of planting where a smaller mesh would leave gaps. Check both dimensions against the actual face you want to cover: a large net is awkward to gather up neatly on a short hedge. The seller marks the lights IP44 but says the adaptor is not waterproof, so plan an indoor power position rather than leaving it exposed.
Choose it if: A wide net can cover a long, regular hedge in one piece instead of joining several smaller sets.
Consider instead: The 4m depth is much more than many domestic hedges need, and its adaptor must stay dry as instructed.
Best where a socket is awkward
6. Electight 20m 200 LED Solar Fairy Lights
The Electight set has 200 warm-yellow LEDs along a 20m string and a separate ground-stake solar panel. It is a practical option for a small tree beyond a sensible cable route, provided the panel can sit in daylight. The listing claims IP65 protection and several lighting modes. Winter charging will vary, so choose mains if you need the same brightness and hours every evening; check the panel and battery instructions before leaving them outside.
Choose it if: The separate solar panel avoids running a mains cable across the garden to a tree.
Consider instead: A shaded panel or dull winter days can shorten the display; do not plan around the seller’s best-case runtime.
Choosing lights for a tree or hedge
Follow the shape, not just the LED count
A plain string can weave through an open tree so some lights sit deeper among the branches. Cluster lights put more points of light along each metre and give a denser outline. For a flat, regular hedge, measure its length and visible height before choosing a net. A large mesh gathered up on a small shrub rarely looks as tidy as one that fits.
Keep the power route separate from the lit size
The Ollny string has 20m of lights and a further 3m lead; the Twinkle Star cluster has 10m lit and a 10m power cable. Measure both parts of your route. Mains sets need an RCD-protected supply and a suitable place for the transformer. Solar avoids a cable back to the house but needs daylight on its panel. Our mains-versus-solar guide explains that trade-off.
Check the complete set
Only use a set marked for outdoor use and follow its instructions for the lights, connectors, transformer and plug. The SAILUN net, for example, has IP44 lights but a non-waterproof adaptor. Electrical Safety First advises RCD protection for outdoor mains lighting. Don’t connect different sets unless the manufacturer confirms they are compatible.
How we chose these
We compared six exact UK variants for lit size, lead length, outdoor-use information and fit for a tree or hedge. The Amazon UK listings were checked on 15 October 2026. We haven’t installed or weather-tested these sets. One alternative net was excluded because its listing contradicted itself about the light colour.
Which would we choose?
For one garden tree, the Ollny string is the most flexible starting point; choose Twinkle Star if you want a fuller glow. For a smaller hedge, look at the Gresonic net. The Abkshine covers a medium-length stretch, while the deeper SAILUN needs a genuinely broad area. The solar Electight set makes sense when a safe mains route is impractical, provided its panel gets enough daylight.
Frequently asked questions
Are net lights better than string lights for a hedge?
A net is quicker to spread over a fairly even hedge face. A string gives you more control around an irregular shrub or individual tree, but takes longer to place.
How many lights do I need for an outdoor tree?
Measure the route you want the string to follow rather than buying by LED count. Loosely wind a length of garden string around the tree, then measure it and add the separate distance to the power source.
Can the transformer stay outside?
Only if the exact manufacturer instructions allow its outdoor placement. An IP rating on the light string does not automatically apply to the adaptor, plug or connections.
Do solar lights work on a tree in winter?
They can, but a shaded panel and short, cloudy days may reduce the hours or brightness. Put the panel where it receives daylight and choose mains when a consistent nightly display matters.
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