Landscape lighting can add enjoyment and safety to your home with minimal investment. For under $200 you can add a very simple and easy to install lighting system that can really accent your home in ways that will enhance you and your guests' experience. If you follow just a few simple steps, you can add a very simple but beautiful element to your landscape that will add years of enjoyment for you and your family.
Choosing the Power Source
The first step is choosing the type and of power source and voltage for you landscape lighting system. One option is to go with solar landscape lighting. It is inexpensive to purchase and has very little if any on going expenses in terms of monthly electricity. The only draw back is that they do not provide quite as much light as other systems, although technology is getting beter every year. There is 12 volt power which is also very easy to install with wiring that can be buried 1/2″-1″ below the surface but does incur ongoing power costs. Another system to consider would be 110 volt systems. These require that the wiring be buried at least 18″ below grade inside conduit. Low voltage or solar landscape lighting is going to be the best choice for most people.
Plan it Out
Next, spend an evening with a flashlight walking around the yard locating the areas that you will want to highlight with you landscape lighting. Some places to consider adding landscape lighting to would include walkways, flower gardens, decks and patios, and around focal points such as water features or specimen trees. If it helps you can sketch out a plan that is “to scale” (that is to a know scale) so you can get a better feel for the light locations and how they will impact the lighting of the whole yard as well as your neighbor's yard.
Buy and Install
After deciding your locations and flagging them, count the total number of lights that you need in order to get a good estimation of your costs. If you are going with a 12 volt system you will want to decide where you are going to plug your transformers into in terms of outlets.
Set your lights, run your wires to each light, bury the wiring under mulch or soil and be sure that your outlets are sealed from moisture to prevent damage to the system and to ensure safety.
Usually a home owner can plan this project and install it in 8 hours or less and that is including the time it takes to buy your materials. Landscape lighting is a great way to impact the way that your landscape is viewed and experienced. The investment that you will be making in terms of time and money will be well worth it.
