Lighting For Gardens - Some tips

As the nights are getting longer some of us turn our thoughts to spending more time in the garden and wanting to enjoy it later into the evening. We often like to see an interesting feature and would like to enjoy it when out in the garden.

I have a few tips as you are thinking about lighting a garden, I hope they are helpful.

Define the area – creating assorted styles of lighting can enhance the area and give it a different feel.

Create a light planter, put a light in the side of a planter to light around the area, this will create a low level of light, but it will also make the area seem much bigger, the eye looks down and if the level of illumination is right it will make the area feel bigger.

Light bushes and plants differently. A row of bushes can have a line of light at the base shining up this will make the bush feel taller and longer, especially if you bring the light closer to the bush the further away it goes. Light only a selection of plants, create a pattern and use assorted colours to create a different look in parts of the garden. Trees and big bushes can create an issue with the light flooding the area, as shown in the photo, use very narrow angle beams to only highlight parts of a tree. This will give the tree height and help the viewer to see a feature not just a tree.

Pathways, use low height fittings that give a spread of light, don’t spread them out to far as the eye has trouble seeing light and then being in darkness, you could quite easily walk off the side of the path. Watch out for reflection, the light will “bounce” off the path surface and use a light colour that is complimentary to the surface of the path or walkway.

Be aware of the location. Especially by the sea or up to approximately 10 miles away from the coast. Salt is carried by the wind and can make any fittings go rusty in a matter of years, even the plastic versions will show signs of wear in this time. Have a maintenance programme to keep your fittings in good condition for as long as possible. One suggestion is to wipe down a marine grade fitting on a regular basis, it will protect the fitting and keep it looking good. Clean the front of a light, yearly dirt and muck can get on to a fitting, so keep it clean to get the best light.

Light under benches and seats, it enables the person going to sit a visual perception and makes an interesting feature, use colour to create different effects underneath the item.

Highlight an area by edge lighting, mount the lighting in a same position as an edge, but make a line of light going around the area, it defines the area and creates a line between the area and plants.

There are companies that supply, correctly designed lighting for the edge and under seat lighting. They consider the right type of light for the situation and help you create beautiful garden lighting.

Please contact me if you would like further information and thank you for reading.

Chris Watts