Fixtures
Where should I use bollard or post lights?
Where should I use spot or accent lighting?
Where do I use flood lights or security lights?
Where should I use spread and diffused fixtures?
Where should I use in-ground or well light fixtures?
General
What is the first step?
How do I choose a transformer?
Why should I light my landscape?
Will rain affect my glass on the lights?
What type of light fixtures are available?
What type of lighting techniques can I use?
When should I use downlighting techniques?
How are landscape lighting systems controlled? Do I have to be at home to turn it on? Is there a timer?
Lighting Techniques
How do I produce a shadowing effect?
How do I produce a silhouetting lighting effect?
When should I produce a spreadlighting effect?
When should I use accent or spotlighting techniques?
How do I produce a cross outdoor garden lighting effect?
Fixtures
Where should I use bollard or post lights?
Bollard and post lights are standing light fixtures which are typically used for pathways, steps, garden walks, and on porches. You could even use them in a driveway for adding an attractive light pattern.
Where should I use spot or accent lighting?
Spot or accent lighting fixtures are used for uplighting, crosslighting, accenting, and grazing. If you mount these fixtures high up, they provide focused downlighting and moonlighting.
Where do I use flood lights or security lights?
These fixtures are designed to help focus and direct the light beams.
Where should I use spread and diffused fixtures?
Spread and diffused fixtures are low level units that are designed to cast illumination in a broader pattern. You may want to use these fixtures in flowerbeds, perimeter planting, driveways, steps and paths.
Where should I use in-ground or well light fixtures?
These fixtures become almost invisible when you bury these fixtures flush with the ground. You can use these for uplighting trees and shrubs, and grazing textured walls.
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General
What is the first step?
First, determine which areas of your landscape you want to highlight with outdoor lighting. For example, you can find lighting to illuminate a walkway, deck, patio, trees, shrubs, the side of a house, doorway, pond or driveway.
How do I choose a transformer?
First, add the total lamp wattage your system will require. For example, six 12w lamps and one 36w lamps would total 108w. Second, choose a transformer powerful enough to handle the total wattage and still have some extra capacity. In the example, a 150w transformer would work, but you may want to consider a 300w transformer if you anticipate needing more lighting fixtures in the future. You do not want to overload you transformer, always keep the total wattages of fixtures wired to a transformer no more than 90% of rated transformer capacity.
Why should I light my landscape?
Lighting your landscape allows you to enjoy your home and property at night. By lighting your landscape you can provide safety for family and visitors, highlight unique design elements of your home, or highlight favorite plants and trees.
Will rain affect my glass on the lights?
No. Rain is natural water. Irrigation systems providing city/well water will develop a sheen on the lenses with Calcium or Lime. Use a product such as non abrasive bathroom cleaner that removes calcium deposits, or hard water deposits to clean lenses.
What type of light fixtures are available?
There are several different fixtures that can be used for your lighting needs. Flood lights can be used to highlight a tree or several trees. Tier lighting, which looks like mini lamp posts, can be used to light various areas of the landscape. Well lights can be used to highlight a structure or a wall. There are also special lights to illuminate driveways and walkways, as well as mounting lights for decks.
What type of lighting techniques can I use?
First, try to key in on the architectural features of your property. Use uplighting to create a dramatic effect on an arbor, a textured façade or a tree with interesting characteristics. Silhouette a favorite tree or bush by placing spot or accent lights below and behind the object. Another technique is to light below and in front of an object to create a shadow effect on a backdrop such as a fence or wall. Illuminate statuary with spot or accent lights by cross lighting above the object. Spread lights cast a broader glow over pathways and flowerbeds. Create a moonlight effect by mounting floodlights high up in trees. For more functional lighting, install fixtures under handrails, stairs and benches of your deck to enhance outdoor entertaining. Position spotlights in the eaves of your home for outdoor activities like basketball or barbecuing.
When should I use downlighting techniques?
Downlighting is an effective and affordable method for security outdoor lighting. A downlighting effect can be produced by positioning bright spotlights near the roof of your home to illuminate large areas. To light a pathway, mount smaller luminaries near the ground.
How are landscape lighting systems controlled? Do I have to be at home to turn it on? Is there a timer?
Landscape lighting systems can be controlled in several different ways. Photocells detect when the sun has set and turns the system on, and then turn it off when the sun rises. Basically, on at dusk, off at dawn. Timers allow you to program when you want the lights to come on and when you want them to go off. There is even a timer that varies the on and off times slightly to make it look like the system is being activated by a person, even when you're away. Photocells and timers can also be used together, for example to turn the system on at dusk and to turn it off at a prescribed hour.
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Lighting Techniques
How do I produce a shadowing effect?
Shadowing is a very elegant way to add some drama to your exterior especially if you have a statue or a striking profile in front of a wall or other surface. To produce a shadowing effect, you will want to place recessed luminaries in front of the object to create shadows on the surface beyond..
How do I produce a silhouetting lighting effect?
Silhouetting is the opposite of shadowing. Just position a recessed luminaries behind and below the object to create a spectacular silhouette.
When should I produce a spreadlighting effect?
You can enhance nighttime appeal with spreadlighting on areas of your garden that have been enhanced with flowerbeds and low shrubs. To produce spreadlighting, position luminaries to illuminate low lying landscaping and ground cover.
When should I use accent or spotlighting techniques?
A quick way to add drama to a landscaped garden. Position intense and focused lights near the base of statuary or trees or near a surfaced wall or trellis. This technique is very compelling but should be used sparingly.
How do I produce a cross outdoor garden lighting effect?
If you want to show off a beautiful statue or tree, you'll love the softly flattering light that is produced by cross garden lighting. To produce a cross garden lighting, position a spotlight on either side of the object you wish to illuminate. The multiple beams of light produce softer shadows and reveal more detail.
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