Short answer: use freestanding light poles. You stake them where you want the light, run your own string lights between them, and the yard gets a ceiling it never had. You do not need trees, a pergola or a fence line.
Work out how many poles you need
Count the runs, not the poles. Every run of lights needs a pole at each end, but neighboring runs share a pole. So two poles give you one run, three poles give you two, and so on.
A sensible span between poles is 15 to 18 ft. Shorter than that and the lights hang flat with no droop. Much longer and the cable sags low enough to walk into.
| 2 poles | One 15-18 ft run. A patio edge, or pole to house |
| 4 poles | Up to three runs. Dining table, seating area, hot tub surround |
| 6 poles | Up to five runs. A full patio canopy with runs crossing |
| 8 poles | Up to seven runs. A large entertaining area |
| 10 poles | Up to nine runs. Big backyards, events, garden weddings |
How high should they be
10 ft is the height that works for most gardens. It clears head height even once the lights droop in the middle, and it puts the light source above eye level so you are not staring into the bulbs while you eat.
What if you only have concrete or decking
This is the question that catches people out. A ground fork needs soil, grass or soft ground to bite into. On a concrete patio or a timber deck it has nothing to hold.
The answer is to clamp rather than stake. Fix the pole to a fence post, a wall, a deck rail or a planter using the clips, screws and anchors, and the pole carries the same load without needing ground at all. Plan this before you order, because it changes where your runs can start and finish.
A few things people get wrong
- Buying poles expecting lights in the box. Poles and string lights are usually sold separately. The poles are the structure; you bring the look.
- Spacing by eye. Measure the span first, then buy. It is much more annoying to discover you are one pole short after the holes are dug.
- Forgetting the power run. Decide which end of the layout sits nearest the outdoor socket before you commit to a direction.
What we sell
Our 10 ft freestanding string light poles are rust-resistant powder-coated steel, screw together by hand with no tools, and come in packs of 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10. The ground fork is 4 prongs, 20.6 cm deep. Clips, screws and anchors for fence or wall mounting are in the box.