Entertaining doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In fact, that’s when it can become the most fun. To enjoy those hot summer nights, you need some great lighting to display your gorgeous landscaping and patio. The right lighting will draw attention exactly where you want it to be, highlighting all the hard work you’ve done on your yard.
Most landscape lighting today is low voltage, mostly because it’s safer to work with and less costly to install. And though low-voltage lights can achieve a wide array of effects, from a moonlight look beamed down from a tree canopy to a subtle glow that washing over a garden wall.
Trees You need to sure to aim lights at both the foliage and the trunk. If you don’t, the uplit crown will look like a UFO has taken over your yard. When illuminating foliage from above, place 20-watt downlights as high in a tree as possible and point them so that their beams don’t cross.
Planting Beds Place fixtures about 20 feet apart. You want pools of light to guide your eye from one plant to the next
Home Facade Use bullet lights and aim them at the corners of your house or architectural details; softer wash lights can fill in the space between them.
Garden Walls Place fixtures close to the base so that the beams bring textures into focus
Focal Points Highlight that attention-grabber in your yard, like a fountain, a tree swing, or an arbor, by aiming lights at it.
Should You Pay More for LEDs?
With no filament to break or burn out, LEDs can last 40,000 hours, approximately 20 years of regular use, compared with just two years for halogen bulbs. LEDs are also very efficient, using only 1 to 11 watts of power as opposed to 20 to 60 watts for halogens. That means lower installation costs, lower operating costs, and reduced maintenance, for up to a 50-percent savings over halogen systems in the course of 15 years.
LEDs are more costly at the start–about $40 per bulb, compared with about $5 for a similar halogen. LED performance is improving, but it still lags behind that of halogens. Below average output is the biggest knock against solar-powered fixtures, which all use LEDs. They might have enough glow to define a garden edge but not to light up your house.
Remember, you can’t just dial up a full moon. Sometimes you need some extra illumination. In addition to providing light to grill by, the right lighting will show off your outdoor entertaining center for all your family and friends.
Are you ready to get started on lighting up your yard? Call us today at Call Hufnagel Landscape Design and Construction today at 201-869-5680. We’ll help you illuminate your space.
