When highlighting water features it is an ideal objective to ?EUR??,,????'??graze?EUR??,,????'?? or ?EUR??,,????'??spill?EUR??,,????'?? the bending light off the surface of the water. Shadows can also be bounced off the surface creating multiple images and interesting silhouettes as long as the lamp itself is not visible or creating hot spots. photos courtesy of lightcraft company

It can be simple to take your garden to another level with the addition of garden lighting. It will help you increase the enjoyment of your garden and can be easy to install as well.

Types of Garden Lighting

There are four main types of lighting best utilized in a garden. First, feature lighting, which is used to create intrigue by lighting key elements, such as, plants, statues and trees. With this type of lighting it’s easy to add interest to a garden a night. The second type of garden lighting is often referred to as ambience lighting. Commonly created by using low voltage lights, which can be purchased in kit form. The third type of lighting is security lighting, a more popular form of lighting. This often involves using timers and sensors in order to make the home as a whole more secure. Flood lighting is also utilized in order to display houses and large trees, typically using heavy duty lighting will achieve a more dramatic effect.

Path lighting is an excellent technique for safety and defining direction. Take care not to over light, avoid glare and avoid the ?EUR??,,????'??run way?EUR??,,????'?? affect. Good path lighting will subtly lead the eye to the intended destination.

Stand Alone Versus Wired

Lighting in the garden can come in two main types stand alone and wired. Stand alone lighting commonly refers to a solar power supply and can have some disadvantages when attempting to properly angle the light in an area with heavy plantings along the borders. Wired lights are supplied as 240 volt or 6 to 12 volts with mini transformers. Often lower voltage lighting is recommended for safety and cost reasons in every type of lighting except for security lighting that is best with 240 volt because of the lighting strength requirements.

Position and Installation

In regards to lighting position the key is to utilize a solution that is versatile. Meaning lay enough cable so that the position of the lights can be moved as the garden plants grow. Once a garden is created and the cable is laid it may be helpful to test the effects with some temporary lights or large candles, which can result in a new ideas or changes in the original plans.

Installation safety is important as well. Try to use a circuit breaker or an electrical trip. If you are using 240-volt lighting always use armour cable and consider the used in the garden like digging or borders regarding the cable depth.

Advice For Garden Lights

Conceal the light source when lighting within the garden using a glare guard on the luminaire or by hiding it behind a plant or other object. This way, it won’t be possible to see where the exterior light comes from.

Driveway lighting should be safe for pedestrians and light the area for vehicles. Lampposts or small post lights provide an excellent solution where driveway lights are required.
Source: All Weather Lighting

When up lighting, it is important to position the fixture far enough from the base of the object to attain even illumination and/or at an appropriate angle to add definition rather than hot spots of condensed light.

Illuminating Info

300 to 500: Dollars, the approximate cost for a do-it-yourselfer to install a landscape lighting system that includes six to eight path lights, a wall washer, a floodlight, a transformer, a 12-volt cable and wire connectors.

14: Gauge, the size of cable that should be used for landscape lighting systems that total 200 watts or less. Systems that are more than 200 watts should utilize 12-gauge cable.
Source: This Old House