Garden Lights for Garden Nights

A garden doesn’t need to be enjoyed only in the daytime. Some of the most pleasant moments in a flower garden can be at night after having dinner and before going to bed. But of course it’s easier to enjoy the garden if there are garden lights. If you want to view your garden in the dark, incorporate lighting into your garden design.

The first big question with garden lighting is the electricity. How will you run the power to the lights and still have the garden look pretty? The second question is what kind of lighting you want and where you want it.

If you have an outdoor fountain or small garden ponds with a pump, you may already have the set-up for adding lights. Or you may need a new design. In either case, work with a professional electrician or landscape designer to make sure things are safe. Older homes may need new, safer electrical outlets installed.

Placing the Lights

View the garden in the dark. See where the lights from other sources are already shining. If you will be using a back porch light regularly, how much of the garden is already illuminated by it? Practice with flashlights of different sizes to see what might look good.

Consider if you want to highlight only a few plants dramatically, or if you want a gentler, more diffuse light throughout the garden. That will help you decide what kind of light you want—white, natural, incandescent or halogen, and so on. Try to adjust for seasonal differences as well. A light that shows nicely on leaves might be glaring in the winter when the branches are bare. Lights will also attract night-time insects, so that is another factor in placement.

Whatever lights you choose for your garden, you will be able to experience it in a different mood, with different scents and colors. Enjoy!

top