Spring Light and Shadow: How to Light Up Your Garden With Outdoor Landscape Lights

Are you thinking about adding outdoor landscape lights to give your spring garden a fresh look at night? In 2023, it was estimated that over 36% of homeowners planned on upgrading their outdoor lighting. But to get the best results, you will have to set up the lights correctly. In this article, we explain how you can accurately brighten your garden with landscape lights.

How to Light Up Your Garden With Outdoor Landscape Lights

Placing lights outside might seem pretty easy; however, to make your garden look beautiful, you will have to follow some important steps on how to go about putting outdoor landscape lights:

Properly Plan Your Lighting Design

Before you begin setting up outdoor lights, you should take some time to plan where they should go in the garden. Focus on small areas like walkways or seating spots. Another thing to note when planning is to avoid placing lights too close together.

Think about how much light each area would need. Some garden spots might require bright lighting, while others would need a softer light. All this planning will result in a neat and well-lit garden.

Pick the Right Outdoor Landscape Lights

After planning, the next step is to choose the right outdoor landscape lights for your garden. The type of lights you pick should match the area you want to specifically highlight. For example, you should install pathway lights along the edges if you have a pathway.

Spotlights can be aesthetically beneficial for trees or special features. Similarly, floodlights will work well if you need to brighten up a larger area. If you want a warm atmosphere, you can choose string lights to wrap around trees or fences to create a pleasant effect. Well lights are also an option to light up trees or walls from below.

Install the Lights at the Right Angles

Setting your landscape lights at a good angle is important for brightening your garden, as it can completely change the whole look. The angles will have to be adjusted accordingly based on the type of landscape lights you are using. Your installation should be done smoothly to avoid any future issues.

Spotlights should be placed at a 15 to 45-degree angle to highlight trees or plants without making the light feel too harsh. For example, if you are aiming to light a tree, you should place the spotlight slightly upward from the base to create a soft glow.

Pathway lights should be kept about 6 to 8 feet apart and angled downwards to spread the light evenly. Floodlights can also be placed at a downward 60 to 120-degree angle.

Use LED Lghts for Energy Saving

Installing LED lights is the best way to lighten up your garden while keeping energy costs low. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDS use about 90% less energy and even last up to 25 times longer. This gives a massive advantage, as you won’t have to replace them often and can easily save both time and money. LED lights also produce less heat, which greatly reduces the risk of overheating or damaging any plants.

To make the most of these lights, you can use warm white LEDs for a soft look or cool white LEDs for a more modern look. With the different LED options available these days, you can opt for different styled outdoor landscape lights based on your voltage needs.

Test and Adjust Your Lighting Security

Taking the time to test your lights once they have been set up is a very important step that you should not forget. Walk around your garden at night and see if there are any spots that are too dark or too bright. If a pathway looks dim, adjust the lights to improve visibility. If a floodlight is giving off a harsh glare, try tilting it slightly for a better effect.

For security, make sure that areas like doorways and other hidden corners are well-lit. Adjust these lights until you are fully satisfied that your garden looks beautiful and is secure.

Maintain Your Lights Regularly

To keep your lights working well for a long time, you will have to regularly maintain them. As time goes by, dirt and bad weather conditions can affect the light’s brightness and performance. This is why it is best to clean them regularly and replace any burnt-out bulbs. Also, adjust the lights if they have shifted due to wind or rain.

Using a low-voltage transformer, which regulates the power supply, can help protect the lights and improve their lifespan. If you do use a transformer, make sure to check its settings and replace it if it stops working properly.

FAQs

How to protect landscape lights?

Place your landscape lights in safe spots to protect them from foot traffic, lawn equipment, bad weather conditions, and theft. Secure the wiring properly to prevent damage from potential animals. You can even use protective covers to shield lights from impact and moisture.

What is the lifespan of landscape lighting?

The lifespan can go from hours to decades based on what kind of landscape light is being used. LED lights can last from 25,000 to 50,000 hours, which is about 5 to 15 years of use. Other lights burn out faster than LEDS, usually lasting about 5000 hours.

Should landscape lighting be in front or behind plants?

It totally depends on what kind of effect you want to create. Placing lights in front of the plants will give the plants shape and texture. Putting the lights behind your plants will create a silhouette effect. You can also mix both techniques to give your garden a unique design.

Get Your Outdoor Landscape Lights from Gardenreet

Now that you know how to set up your garden with outdoor lights, you should start looking for the right ones suitable for your space. Finding high-quality, affordable lights can be difficult, but at Gardenreet, you won’t have to worry about budget concerns. We have a wide range of outdoor landscape lights, all at great prices.

Browse through our collection and pick the perfect lights you need to lighten up your garden!