Enjoy
Your Garden After Dark with Landscape Lighting
By Melinda Myers
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[June 11, 2022]
Enjoy your garden and landscape once the sun
sets with strategically placed and attractive landscape lighting.
Select the best type of light that complements your garden design
and best accomplishes the intended purpose.
Solar powered lighting eliminates the need for
outdoor outlets, extension cords or buried low voltage lines. The
solar panels charge during sunny days and can be mounted on the
light or on a long cord, allowing you to place the solar panel where
it gets the most sunlight.
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Some lights turn on automatically at dusk, others
have a manual on-off switch, and a few have a remote on-off control.
Votive and pillar candles are longtime favorites. Set them in a
container on the table or line a pathway. Unfortunately, the wax
does drip, there is a danger of fire, and the flame can blow out in
a strong breeze.
Consider using battery-operated candles instead. These look and
flicker like the real thing and eliminate some of the problems and
dangers of candles. Look for those with remote controls or timers to
make lighting your space hassle-free.
Use these battery-operated candles in decorative holders like the
Dahlia Blossom Punched Metal Lanterns (gardeners.com). You’ll enjoy
the copper cut lanterns as garden art by day and the intricate light
pattern they cast at night.
Pot up your favorite flowers and tropical and edible plants in solar
illuminated planters. Luminous solar-powered planters are frosted
white by day and can be programmed to display one color or set for
color-changing mode. These pots have a ten-foot cord, allowing you
to place the pots where the plants will thrive and connecting it to
its solar panel in a sunny spot nearby.
Solar torch lights have flickering lights that create a realistic
look while lighting a pathway or sitting area. Use one to highlight
a special spot in your garden or several to light a pathway, patio
or larger space when entertaining.
Prevent trips and falls while also boosting safe access to your
favorite outdoor spaces by lighting steps as well as pathways. Look
for solar powered lights like Maxsa Solar Ninja Stars that can be
mounted on steps, the ground, deck, wall, or other flat surfaces.
The integrated solar panels come with a rechargeable battery.
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Add overhead glow to patios, decks, or balconies with
string lights. They come in a variety of styles to light up larger
spaces or highlight your favorite tree. Multicolored waterdrop
string lights will add a festive look to any space. Luminites® Solar
String Lights feature Edison bulbs that provide six to eight hours
of steady or gently flashing modes.
Add some fun, personality or added interest with specialty lights.
Outdoor lights like the Twinklelite™ Solar Stake Lights have
flexible branches covered with 120 LED bulbs. Twist and bend the
branches to accomplish the look you desire. Then wait for the lights
to turn on automatically at dusk.
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Add some landscape lighting to help you enjoy quiet moments or
festive gatherings in your gardens after dark. Select the best
lighting options that are easy to use, complement your design and
provide the needed lighting in your landscape.
Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books,
including Small Space Gardening and Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd
Edition. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD
series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is
a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and
was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write
this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply
Company/gardeners.com] |