Landscape Lighting Brightens Gardens When Sun Doesn't

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - With the days getting longer, we get to see a little more of our gardens. But wouldn't it be nice to enjoy the garden even more throughout the year?

Garden lighting can come to the rescue, flooding our landscapes with light and extending our enjoyment well past dusk.

Gone are the days of simply lining the front walk with little plastic mushroom lights.

Our ideas about garden lighting can broaden to include more than illuminating a pathway or lighting up a tree. Creatively lighting a garden will bring it alive and make it much more usable during the evening hours.

Landscape lighting is not a new concept.

Some of the finest gardens increased their appeal early in their lifespans through the addition of carefully planned nighttime lighting.

Every garden, no matter the size, can benefit from thoughtful placement of lighting fixtures.

What is new is the large and beautiful selection of landscape lighting choices.

Today's lighting offers an abundant selection in low-voltage fixtures, using just 12 volts of electricity rather than the traditional 110-volt lighting devices. These fixtures are much safer in the landscape as the risk of electrical shock is minimal at this lower voltage.

"We typically recommend low voltage landscape lighting for a number of reasons," says Patrick Devereux, landscape architect and president of Stone Oak Landscapes in Milwaukee. "We have a large assortment of light fixtures and finishes to choose from, and we have many options for lamps or bulbs. This means we can create a wide variety of nighttime effects."

Devereux says the majority of his customers ask him to incorporate landscape lighting into their landscape plan or installation. It's a way for customers to extend the time they spend in their gardens, he says.

"Our customers may get home from work late, or they like to entertain, whether for family and friends or for business. They want the ability to use their yard into the evening," says Devereux.

The first step in adding lighting to your landscape is to determine what the light will do for the garden.

-- The most basic lighting will provide access by illuminating pathways, ensuring safe movement through the garden.

-- Amenity lighting will provide needed light at patios, outdoor dining areas or driveways.

-- Ornamental lighting can highlight exterior features of the house or garden, creating nighttime depth and visual appeal, otherwise lost to the darkness.

It is a combination of these types of lighting that provides the most interesting look in the garden at night.

"Well-placed exterior lighting is the proverbial candle in the window, both welcoming and comforting," says Christine Anderson, architectural lighting consultant for Brass Light Gallery in Milwaukee.

Anderson says outdoor lighting can dramatically change the appearance of a garden, and increase the use and enjoyment of the landscape.

"The best thing is that the homeowner reaps the benefit from inside the home, as guests do while approaching or visiting the home and garden," she says.

Brass Light Gallery introduced a new line of architectural landscape lighting last fall.

Their fixtures are designed to withstand Wisconsin's often-harsh weather conditions. Anderson insists that quality is the key to outdoor lighting fixtures.

Anderson says consumers should check the finish on metal fixtures. Some inferior finishes are sprayed on the metal, and are not an actual patina. She says that since these finishes will be outdoors and constantly exposed to the elements, they may chip or flake off in time.

"Landscape lighting is a big commitment; take your time and choose well. It is easy to do research online, but it is often more effective to visit a local dealer or showroom," she says. "Don't be afraid to ask questions and handle the fixtures."

Devereux likes to use lighting to highlight plants with an interesting form, or trees and shrubs with unique bark. This keeps the garden intriguing even in the winter.

"Structures like a pergola or arbor can be lit to create a focal point in the garden. A sculpture, sundial, birdbath, or another interesting piece of garden art can be dramatically lit, and snow and ice can sparkle in the light," he says.

The light bulb choice (known as a lamp) and not necessarily the fixture will determine the effect of the lighting.

When highlighting a specimen tree or shrub, Devereux recommends a 20-watt or a 35-watt lamp with a 60-degree beam spread.

For very large or tall trees, he uses a higher wattage lamp.

For subtle effects on structures or on the home, Devereux uses 10-watt and 20-watt lamps with beam spreads varying between 12 and 36 degrees.

Since the subject can be unfamiliar to consumers, and sometimes complicated, lighting showrooms and specialists can suggest the proper bulbs and beam spreads for all situations in the home garden.

This simplifies the homeowners' tasks, enabling them to concentrate on the fixtures, and not the technicalities of lighting.

Anderson has one more word of advice when choosing fixtures for the landscape.

"The homeowner needs to consider maintenance of the fixture. How hard is it to change a light bulb? This is Wisconsin, and there are bugs. Are there removable panels for easy cleaning? These practical issues should be addressed initially to avoid unpleasant results later," she says.

According to Devereux, there is one watchword that applies to all landscape lighting:

"You should see the effect of the light, not the source of the light."