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Garden lighting adds so much to the garden. There’s nothing quite like that spotlight hitting your favorite palm tree or pathway lighting that leads visitors to your door. It just warms up the whole “Welcome to our Home” vibe, doesn’t it?
But landscape lighting is not just about making your outdoor spaces look beautiful; it also offers safety and security benefits, helping you navigate your yard safely at night and warning off the bad guys that someone lives in that home.
Let’s look at some tips and techniques to ensure your outdoor areas are well-lit and inviting.
Choose the Right LED Garden Lighting
LED garden lighting may sound complicated with its mention of Volt Amps (VA), but it’s actually important to consider when designing your outdoor lighting system.
LEDs use more energy than what’s listed on their capacity, so when sizing your transformer, keep this in mind. Fortunately, you can harness the power of the sun by using solar panel attachments for LED landscape lighting, allowing you to run your lights using solar energy during the day.
Explore Various Styles and Features
LED landscape lighting comes in a variety of styles, each with different light outputs and fixture types. This diversity makes them suitable for a range of outdoor uses.
Your landscape designer can help you select the right type of outdoor LED lighting to match your project’s needs and your personal taste. These systems are also smart, using sensors to detect natural light intensity. When night falls, your LED landscape lighting automatically brightens, giving you added security and safety.
Enjoy Long-lasting Benefits
One of the great advantages of LED landscape lighting is how durable it is. LED bulbs can keep shining for up to ten years, and many top-notch fixtures come with lifetime warranties for both the LED and fixture.
If any component breaks, you can get it replaced or repaired at no cost. This can save you nearly $700 over the life of the system, which is about half the cost of a 35-watt Par-36 halogen landscape light bulb.
Plan Your Landscape Lighting Design
Before you start installing landscape lighting, take a moment to consider its purpose. You can use it to accentuate walls, trees, statues, ponds, and other landscape features.
Highlighting these elements is key to their overall impact, and your lighting design should harmonize with your chosen theme. Experiment with different lighting effects using high-powered flashlights with dimming options.
Illuminate the Right Areas
Identify the vantage point from which you’d like to view your landscape, as this will help you determine which areas need illumination. Consider the presence of trees; they create intriguing shadows, and landscape lighting can emphasize the main viewing areas.
Using multiple fixtures to highlight these areas will create a captivating interplay of light and shadow.
Enhance Pathways and Architecture
Path lighting not only guides guests but can also deter intruders and elevate simple designs. Ensure you choose the right distance for your path lights to prevent glare.
Furthermore, select a style that complements your architectural features and trees, as it can enhance the overall atmosphere.
Opt for Quality Connectors
Experienced landscape lighting installers often recommend Ace Connectors for their quality, durability, and ease of installation. These connectors incorporate hex-head set screws, compression fittings, and heat shrink tubing, providing a strong and streamlined connection. They’re compatible with wire gauges from #8 to #18 and can be reused for multiple landscape lighting fixtures
Check Reviews and Ratings
When shopping online, pay attention to product reviews and ratings. Products with more positive reviews and higher ratings are generally a safer bet.
Protect Against the Elements
Remember that the connection point in any landscape lighting circuit is vulnerable to the elements. Water and other factors can lead to wire damage or ineffective current flow.
Ensure you select connectors that can withstand water and other hazards. If you’re uncertain, consider consulting a designer for a virtual session to determine the best landscape lighting connectors for your installation.
Visit GardenReet.com for more information and to check out some gorgeous garden lighting solutions.