Using and Buying Garden Lights
Creating drama in the garden is about planting, hard landscaping and great design. But all of this fails if the lighting in the garden is not properly lit at night. Once the sun goes down, all the hard work and planning, vanishes for the next 8-10 hours! All that is needed to remedy the situation is some good garden lighting. That said, a harsh security light beamed onto the garden is not going to show your hard work off to its best. So what garden lights are on the market and how can they be used to get the most out of your garden planting?
Accent Lighting
This kind of garden light is purely to throw attention on to a planting scheme, landscaping or garden sculpture. Placing an up-lighter in a border will create drama and texture whereas a wall washed with light provides soft diffused light and can cast some intriguing shadows through the borders. If you have a water feature, you can install lights under the water to give a magical impression by night. This kind of lighting is usually mains wired and is difficult to install and change once installed. Often, special cables need fitting by a qualified electrician.
If you want something easier to fit try the Select-A-Light low voltage garden lighting system. Simply buy the special Select-A-Light cable and place it a round the garden where you want it to go. Then choose from the numerous styles of outdoor garden lights in the range. From the number of lights you have, calculate the transformer you will need and plug it into a mains socket in the house and you have your easy to instal lighting system.
Lighting for Effect
In this category the light itself is the feature rather than a spotlight for something else. Solar garden lights are the new kids on the block when it comes to special effects lighting. From flush solar decking lights to luminous fairy bowers, that would look just as at home on your bedroom furniture as in your garden, there is a style to suit you. Solar garden lights are great for placing in corners that you can’t reach with conventional lighting so you can let your imagination run wild.
There is nothing as flattering as candle light and there is plenty of space for torches and tea-lights in any garden scheme. Just follow safety rules. Do not place a naked flame where children or pets can be hurt by it. Keep plants and flammable materials well away. Make sure your candlelights are firmly secured and never leave a naked flame to burn unattended.
A clever mix of all three will create a beautiful feature garden that is a delight by night as well as by day.