Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting

 


Article by: Debbie Rodgers

When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may drive us inside , Landscaping Tips: What is the Proper Mulch to Use for Trees from our porches, , Artificial Flowers – Are They A Solution? patios , The Value of Mulch or decks. , 6 Factors that Directly Decide the Landscaping Design of a Home Garden Don't despair - outdoor , Some Great Ideas for Spring Patio Furniture lighting can lengthen the day and dramatically extend the potential of our outdoor , Gardening with Bamboo living spaces.

The first step, as with any project, is to plan. , Natural Pond Filters - Let Nature Do the Hard Work! How do you want to use this space after dark, and what lighting will you need? Lighting can be summarized in four categories:



  • Security lighting is needed in highly vulnerable areas of your property. , A Choice New Hydrangea With Variegated Foliage Because it is bright and often motion activated, keep it away from the living areas so that it's not distracting. Alternatively, have your security , Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First Garden Leaf Blower lighting on a manual on/off switch so that you can override automatic illumination.

  • Task lighting is for performing specific activities such as grilling or walking safely up and down steps and along paths. , 6 Factors that Directly Decide the Landscaping Design of a Home Garden You should place , Do It Yourself Landscape Design - Where To Begin task lighting between your eyes and the object that needs to be lighted and should take care that it does not glare. An overly bright light , A Choice New Hydrangea With Variegated Foliage will blind rather than guide.

  • Accent lighting adds drama or can highlight an unusual feature. , How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails Uplighting, for example can illuminate an interesting piece of statuary. Silhouetting, achieved by placing a light , How to Clone with Success between an object and a fence or wall, , Flowers, An Annual Event dramatically displays an unusual tree , The Front Porch Swings Through History or bush.

  • General or ambient lighting provides overall illumination so that people feel comfortable and look good. The most magical of lighting imitates what is found in nature , Winterizing Your Roses - moonlight or starlight. Moonlighting is produced by hanging lights , Themes of Shade in mature trees, , Winterizing Your Roses pointing downward to produce a dappled effect, as if the area were lit by a full moon. The look of starlight can be achieved through the use of flickering candles, sprinkled here and there throughout the space, or by suspending tiny lights , Summer Gardening is All Weeding and Watering! in the branches of a tree , Natural Garden Pest Control to create a sparkling night time canopy. Of course, there are many other attractive types of light , Why Teak Coffee Tables Are Essential For Your Outdoor Space - some just plain fun!



No matter what type of lighting you choose, it will be powered by one of these sources.



  • Fire is the oldest source of light , Concrete Mold Buying Tips and considered by some to be the most romantic. Flames, produced by candles or oil-burning lamps, are warm and flattering to faces, and have a hypnotic effect that induces calm and relaxation. Firelight on reflected surfaces such as ponds, , Artificial Flowers – Are They A Solution? mirrors and even gazing balls is a particularly effective way to create atmospheric lighting and enhance the impression of light. , Lawn Tractors Were Never a Chore



Try snaking a row of candles along a garden , Seed Starting Tips path or suspending them in glass , Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First Garden Leaf Blower jars from branches. An array of tiki burning torches can add an exotic touch to your patio , Rose Gardening area. Although torches are designed to withstand a reasonable amount of wind, it's best to provide as much protection as possible to any open flame and never leave one unattended.



  • Solar-powered lights , 6 Factors that Directly Decide the Landscaping Design of a Home Garden are an easy and portable choice for outdoor , Do It Yourself Landscape Design - Where To Begin lighting. Some lights , Early Spring Garden Guide: What To Do In The Yard And Garden Now have a collector panel that can be concealed behind shrubbery, while others contain their own energy , Themes of Shade cell and absorb the sun's rays even on a cloudy day.

  • Battery-operated and rechargeable units are also wireless and very portable while in use.

  • Line-powered or hard-wired lights , A Choice New Hydrangea With Variegated Foliage are connected to the electrical system of your home. , Watering Your Lawn Weatherproof lamps may be plugged directly into an outdoor , Why Teak Coffee Tables Are Essential For Your Space socket. Wire for lighting that is further from the house , Why Should You Own a Green? runs through buried conduits. The most permanent of outdoor , How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails lighting, it is also the most expensive, sometimes costing in the tens of thousands of dollars. It should be installed by a licensed , Artificial Flowers – Are They A Solution? electrician.

  • Low-voltage units also connect to the electrical system of your home, , Lawn Care Information but are fitted with a transformer that reduces the electrical current from 120 volts to a safer supply of 12 volts. Although they are less durable than line-powered fixtures, they are also a lot less expensive and are ideal for a small outside , Choosing Lawnmowers For Cutting Grass On Tennis Courts space where only short cable runs are required. They are designed for an easy do-it-yourself installation.



Whatever your light , Natural Garden Pest Control source, keep these tips , Home and Garden Decor in mind:



  • Less is more in lighting. Be subtle: try to hide lights , Natural Garden Pest Control where possible and use a low watt bulb. , Do It Yourself Landscape Design - Where To Begin

  • Avoid setting lights , Concrete Mold Buying Tips in straight lines up and down paths, , Chainsaws - Caring For Your Chain drives or patio , Some Great Ideas for Spring Furniture edges. This "airport runway" effect is a very common error.

  • Yellow lights , Mosquitos... Beware! are unflattering to both people and plants. , Gardening with Bamboo Where possible, install blue-white bulbs , Landscaping Tips: What is the Proper Mulch to Use for Trees or purchase daylight-blue filters for your fixtures.

  • Position outside lights , Landscaping Tips: What is the Proper Mulch to Use for Trees where they are easily accessible for changing light , How to Start Your Lawn by Seeding or Sod bulbs. Investing in long-life outdoor , Water Gardens bulbs will make the maintenance even easier.

  • With any unit requiring electricity, , A Choice New Hydrangea With Variegated Foliage use the protection of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on all outdoor , Natural Pond Filters - Let Nature Do the Hard Work! circuits.



Don't let the sun , Why Do Flowers Inspire Me So Much? dictate the use of your outdoor , Natural Pond Filters - Let Nature Do the Hard Work! space. Get outside , Rose Gardening after dark and light , 6 Factors that Directly Decide the Landscaping Design of a Home Garden up the night!
About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, , Avoid Common Gardening Errors and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor , Your Garden - Start With The Basics living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web , How to Start Your Lawn by Seeding or Sod at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor , Homemade Hydroponics System Plan space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

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