Garden design: lighting
Top tips
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When lighting flowers, trees and shrubs, you'll get a much better effect if you disguise the light sources. Luckily, there's plenty of places to hide lamps in the average flowerbed...
- A string of fairy lights that take their power from a remote solar panel is a great way to bring eco-friendly lighting effects to a shady corner.
That battered security light you hang above the barbecue on a summer evening may help you see your sausages with million-candlepower clarity but it's not exactly subtle, is it? Today's garden lighting does so much more than mere illumination. Used carefully, it can show you a side of your garden that you never knew was there.
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Planning
Before you start your design, take some time to view the garden from different standpoints and at different times of the evening. Identify layers in the composition of trees, plants and shrubs and consider how lighting will impact on those layers. For example, plants with strong architectural forms look effective when backlit by a lamp that also illuminates the foliage behind. Instead of lighting a tree with a conventional spotlight, try placing downlighters among the branches for a more dramatic effect.
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Choices
The increased use of hard landscaping in gardens has opened a fresh arena for creative lighting. Mini uplighters are particularly effective when set into a deck or patio. Spotlights are great for illuminating statues or sculptures. Water features are best lit from above. This is one area where a subtle use of colour might not be out of place. Underwater lighting can create dramatic effects but make sure you use products specifically designed for this purpose. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.
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Lighting systems
All lighting for the garden should be low-voltage. Once a secure low-voltage system has been fitted, you should be able to position the lights yourself. Creating a low-voltage electrical system involves installing a transformer which should be situated under cover, in a waterproof housing. A qualified electrician is by far the best person for this job. Any mains cables should be armoured and sited away from areas where they could be disturbed by digging or similar activity. When deciding on the position of your garden lights, take care that they don't dazzle people who may be using steps or potentially slippery paths. And that includes your neighbours!
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Party lighting
Sometimes, the simplest lighting techniques are the most effective of all. Tea lights in pretty holders can turn a quiet supper on the patio into a magical night. Scented candles add an extra dimension to an evening in the garden but make sure they don't clash with the aroma of the meal you're cooking! Oil torches or paraffin lamps provide a longer-lasting flame. The traditional hurricane lamp is still one of the most practical designs around – and its retro form never goes out of style.
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