When it comes to really making an impact with your garden the secret is often not in the planting or the design. How you light your garden really makes a difference. Garden lights are very often overlooked as an integral part of a garden’s layout. Good designers know this and don’t fail to use garden lighting as their secret weapon when creating drama in the garden.
There are a number of ways to light your garden so you have plenty of options to mix and match with, depending on your needs.
Candles and Torches
The low tech option and cheap to buy and use, tea lights, candles and torches are the most appealing natural light source, very flattering and ambient. They also double up in the summer as great bug repellent, especially if you use citronella candles and torches. However, saftey is a must so follow simple rules and you can enjoy this magical garden lighting option in without worry. Make sure that any candles are out of reach to children and animals. Ensure that they are attached or supported solidly to avoid a candle or torch overturning.. keep fabrics and flammable items, including plants well out of the flame’s way.
Electric Garden Lighting
If you are looking for a permanent lighting option electrical lighting is a good choice. For practical use electric lights with sensors are great for security and lighting up the driveway. If designed correctly, you have have the practicality of a lit path or driveway and the aesthetic pleasure of a lit garden as well. Once upon a time this type of lighting was expensive to install and difficult to modify as it involved professionally installed outdoor electric cables. Now such developments as the Select-a-Light system allows you to lay a cable, mix and match from a range of styles of garden light, choose the appropriate transformer and plug it straight into your mains supply from your house. This is a good choice if you a stronger light source that will not fade over a few hours. It also combines practicality with good design.
Solar Garden Lights
The range of lighting options with solar garden lights is much bigger than say 10 years ago. From the traditonal path lights through to fairy lights delicate enough to draped over a piece of bedroom furniture, there is a style that will be right for your garden. The great feature of solar garden lights is the fact that they can be oplaced anywhere in the garden, will charge up by day and glow magiaclly by night. If you want toplace your lights in a shady spot, there are even lights connected to a solar panel that can be placed elsewhere in the garden. Better still solar garden lights need no power, as the sun provides this, they need no bulb replacement and they help the planet by using no fossil fuelled electricity.
Of course a judicious mix of all of these types of lighting will give the best effect. Different qualities of garden lighting are great for creating interest and texture to your night garden and will make it a more interesting place to explore and enjoy by night