Using Solar Power in Landscape Lighting

Posted on March 14,2004 by Susan

There are 2 ideas on landscape lighting that most people think about when they decide to switch to Solar Power in using Landscape Lighting. The first is to make it safe for both you and your guests. Secondly, to enhance the beauty of your home. Here are a few ways to do both:

Solar Powered Deck and Patio Lights

Decks and patios are designed to be places for entertainment but without the proper lighting they can be very hazardous, especially if you have any elevation changes at all like steps, planters or seating. Solar Powered Landscape lights can be added to a deck or patio very easily to illuminate these elevation changes and make it a pleasant place to be for outdoor living. There are several options available like the recessed lights that fit flush into the deck itself. Landscape Lights are very durable and can even be stepped on with out shattering. Another option for deck lighting can be to have lamps on the deck. Solar Powered Deck lamps come in many different shapes and sizes and can be a beautiful addition to your deck. With proper planning they can be part of the design and add an element of beauty to your deck or patio. Another option to consider is adding post cap lights to your deck. Your deck design would benefit from the added detail and the beauty Solar Lights would bring to it.

Solar Powered Water Fountains

Solar Powered Landscape lighting can enhance water features such as Solar Powered fountains with incredible effects. A Solar Powered Water fountaincan glow and a small pond can be transformed from below the water surfacewith LED lighting. You want to be sure and choose the correct kind of solar powered lights for your situation though; it will make all the difference in terms of how your water feature will be perceived. The most common choicefor fountain lighting is the submersible light. These lights are placed underwater and illuminate upwards to create a shimmering effect. They alsohelp to illuminate streams of water as they flow into the basin of the fountain. Colored filters can be added for creativity. LED landscape lighting

is a good choice for fountains because of the many vivid colors. Solar lighting is by far the cheapest and easiest to install and is becoming a popular choice for many because of this. However, you may want to check the wide variety of solar powered lights for your particular setting. The technology is getting better with solar powered lights and so is the variety. Choosing the correct lighting techniques for your fountain will take a little planning on your part. You will want to experiment with a flashlight at night to see exactly the locations that will best serve you for your fountain and solar powered lighting project.

Solar Powered Walkway Lights

Solar Powered Walkway lighting is crucial because it adds safety as well as accentuates the materials used on your path as well as surrounding plantings. The most popular these days is solar lighting. You can add solar powered lights to your walkways in as little as a couple of hours and for lessthan $150. Solar powered Lighting kits usually come with a number of lights and your power source.

Tree Lighting

Tree lighting usually involves up lighting and/or down lighting. Up lighting can be accomplished with lighting fixtures that are mounted at the tree's base or around the drip line and aimed up towards the trunk and branches. This is a great technique when you have specimen trees with interesting branching patterns, for example the Live Oaks. Solar power lighting is the best option because as it provides enough light to accomplish the effect it is very cost effective. Mounting lights in large trees on established branches and then aiming the lights downward to highlight bedding areas. Solar powered lights are also available in many different colors and designs that can really add some creativity and life to your landscape. They are operated by the sun and can be hung from your established trees.

Wall Lighting

Solar powered wall lights can be done in several ways. One technique is "grazing". Grazing is accomplished by installing a light approximately 6" from the edge of your wall or facade and aiming it vertically up the wall.

The textures of your house, fences or retaining walls will be highlighted andaccentuated using solar powere. Another way to light a wall is by using spot lighting. Spot lighting can be done by either up or down lighting. A creative way to use spot lighting is by up lighting a tree or any ornamental structure,for example a statue, by shadowing it. Shadowing is accomplished by positioning a light behind the object and aiming the light through it towardsa wall. Silhouetting an object is another example of up lighting a wall using spot lights. You will want to locate your landscape light in between your ornamental piece and the wall, then position the light to shine on the wall at a 30 to 45 degree angle. The result is that the dark image of your object is in front of it; only the shape of the object is shown, no leaf or flower color or texture shows up.

Here are five super easy techniques for solar powered landscape lights. The key to having good results is a little planning before beginning your project and a little creativity.