Home Improvement Ideas Patio Design Ideas and Makeovers Patio Designs How to Install String Light Poles in Your Backyard Here's a simple, sturdy way to hang those string lights you've been eyeing. By Jessica Bennett Jessica Bennett Instagram Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 20, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Adam Albright Project Overview Working Time: 3 hours Total Time: 1 day Skill Level: Beginner Ready your outdoor space for al fresco dining and bonfire season with the warm glow of string lights such as these Better Homes & Gardens 10-Count Warm White LED Ribbed Outdoor String Lights,($34, Walmart). If you don't have any deck or porch posts accessible or trees you can use to string outdoor lights, this backyard project for string light poles can help you suspend lights anywhere with minimal effort. Long vertical poles secured with concrete footings are an easy way to support twinkling string lights and are sturdy enough to stay up for the entire summer season. Only a little carpentry work and a few basic supplies are required, and this DIY project can be done in one day. See how we did it below, and check out our expert advice to hang string lights correctly the first time. Bring Character to Your Backyard: 5 Weekend Projects What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Hacksaw Drill Paintbrush Materials Concrete forms Concrete 1-inch diameter PVC pipe 3/4-inch conduit 3/4-inch cap Screw eye Nut Primer Paint String lights Zip ties Instructions Set Concrete for String Light Poles Create a sturdy base for the string light pole supports using concrete and PVC pipes. Sink concrete forms at each end or corner of your patio or backyard area. Make sure the concrete forms are set deep enough to go below the frost line, which varies by region. (In the lower 48 states, it can range from zero to eight feet, so research how deep your frost line is before you start this project.) Center a same-height piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe inside and fill form around the pipe with concrete. 15 Gorgeous Ways to Decorate with String Lights Cut Pipes for String Light Poles Cut 3/4-inch conduit to the height you want the lights, plus the height of the PVC pipe that is already installed in the ground. You can cut the conduit using a hacksaw. Don't stand the pipe up in the tube in the ground yet. Drill Holes in Pipe Screw a 3/4-inch cap onto the conduit end, and drill a hole 1 inch below. Feed a screw eye through the hole and secure with a nut. The screw eye is what will hold the string lights. How to Make DIY String-Light Planters to Brighten Any Spot in Your Yard Finish Poles for String Light Prime and paint the string light pole any color you'd like (we went with classic black). Next, feed it into the PVC pipe in the concrete. Before you do this, make sure the concrete has dried all the way through. Hang Outdoor String Lights Attach outdoor lights to the screw eye using zip ties. If necessary, spray-paint the zip tie to match the color of the pole and hook. Remove the string light poles when not in use, and mow right over the concrete bases if needed. The 10 Best Outdoor String Lights of 2023 to Illuminate Your Backyard