$45,000–$70,000 · 4 weeks
Live oak shade garden, Fair Oaks Ranch
Fair Oaks Ranch, Fair Oaks Ranch · finished 2025 · led by Marisol Ortega
Landscape Lighting · from $350–$600 per fixture
Tree uplighting for live oaks and pecans in Fair Oaks Ranch
A big live oak or pecan is the best thing to light in a Hill Country yard. Lit from below, the trunk and the underside of the canopy glow against the night sky, and the whole yard gets depth. Lit from above, a tree can throw dappled moonlight across a patio or lawn.
Every tree is different, so we design tree lighting at night with test fixtures. Most mature live oaks need two to four uplights placed to show the trunk and the spread of the main limbs. Large canopies over patios often get one or two downlights mounted high in the tree on adjustable straps that won't girdle the bark.
Who it's for
Who this is for
Homeowners with heritage live oaks, pecans, cedar elms or Texas mountain laurels worth showing off. Anyone whose yard goes black at night beyond the patio. Homes in Fair Oaks Ranch, Boerne and Alamo Heights where mature trees are the defining feature.
Materials and options
Tree lighting techniques
| Technique | Effect | Fixtures per tree | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uplighting | Glowing trunk and canopy | 2–4 | $350–$600 each |
| Moonlighting (downlight) | Dappled light on the ground | 1–3 | $450–$700 each |
| Silhouetting | Tree outlined against a lit wall | 1–2 | $325–$500 each |
| Trunk graze | Bark texture close-up | 1–2 | $350–$500 each |
What it costs
What tree uplighting costs
$350–$600 per fixture
installed; most mature trees need 2–4
Tree uplights run $350 to $600 per fixture installed. A single mature live oak typically costs $900 to $2,000 to light well. Moonlighting fixtures mounted in the canopy run $450 to $700 each because of the climbing and strap mounting.
Timeline
How long it takes
Most tree lighting projects take one to two days.
- Night design visit1 evening
- Plan and priceWithin a week
- Install fixtures and wire1–2 days
- Night aiming1 evening
- One-year re-aim checkIncluded
Choosing which trees to light
Not every tree needs light. We pick one or two that read from the street or from your main windows, usually the largest live oak or a pecan with an open canopy, and light them well. Small ornamental trees like Texas mountain laurel get one narrow uplight. Lighting fewer trees with more care gives depth, keeps the yard calm, and costs less than scattering fixtures under everything.
Trees grow; lights get re-aimed
Canopies change. We use adjustable fixtures with extra wire coiled at each one, and we come back once in the first year to re-aim as the tree leafs out or is pruned. In the root zone of live oaks we hand-dig wire trenches and route around large roots.
Case study
Live oak shade garden, Fair Oaks Ranch
A failing lawn under four heritage live oaks replaced with a deer-resistant native shade garden, drip irrigation and tree uplighting, designed in 3D.
Read the case study“Seeing it in 3D sold us. The deer walk right through it and leave it alone, and the oaks at night are the best part of the house.”
Questions
Tree uplighting questions
Will uplighting harm my tree?
No. LED fixtures run cool and sit on the ground. In-canopy fixtures are mounted with adjustable straps that are loosened as the tree grows, never nailed or screwed into bark.
How many lights does a big live oak need?
Usually two to four uplights for a single mature tree, placed to show the trunk and main limbs. Very wide canopies sometimes need more, which we test at night.
Can you light trees without lighting the neighbor's house?
Yes. We choose narrower beam spreads, shield fixtures and aim into the canopy, not past it. Testing at night is how we make sure.
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All landscape lighting servicesWhere we build this most
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Start with a free site walk
Forty-five minutes on your property with a designer. You'll leave with honest numbers and a clear next step. A fixed-price proposal with a 3D render follows within two weeks.