Garden Lighting - the Extra Touch

Garden lighting can be can be important both for practical reasons such as security and using your garden at night, as well as an ornamental feature. The past decade has seen an explosion in the range of lighting available to the home gardener, and well planned lighting can be the difference between a good garden and a spectacular one.

Like all garden ornaments, lights require planning if they are to fit in with the overall garden design. It could be very worthwhile to talk to someone in the garden accessories section of your local plant nursery or gardens supplier, as the range of lights is ever expanding, and they can give you an idea of what is available and also what is popular ‘this season’.

This is one aspect of gardening where safety can be a big consideration, so if you are not particularly familiar with the requirements, this is one thing you should definitely talk about with someone at your local garden supply or hardware store.

Making Lighting Work for You

Whether you are just starting a garden or making changes to your existing situation, lighting is something that needs to work with your plants and other elements of your garden. Think about the effect you are after:

• Are you choosing to use lighting as an ornamental or security feature?
• Is there one part of your garden you would like to highlight?
• What suits your house and garden best – the whimsy of fairy lights strung through trees, or angular modern light features?

These are all things you could consider when planning the lighting for your garden, along with power supply and safety. But all the decisions will be worthwhile on the first night you have a chance to enjoy your newly lit garden.

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