Planning low-voltage lighting for your yard

​Even though the evenings are still staying light, it's a perfect time to talk about landscape lighting, especially if you don't have any. Planning now will have you enjoying your yard this fall and winter when it gets dark before you even get home from work.

Here are a few tips on how and where to incorporate lighting into your landscape design.

• Where will you spend your time in the evening?
  If you like to entertain, consider overhead lighting around your hardscape areas. If you can put the lighting on a dimmer, you can also control the amount of brightness depending on the time of night. The options for overhead lighting are almost limitless, from stringed lights to hanging lanterns.
  
  
• Where will people walk?
  It's also important to plan for the path by which people will need to walk in your landscape. Making sure there is adequate ground lighting is critical to ensure safety for you and your guests. You can use low voltage lighting in a variety of ways, from small lanterns tucked into the foliage to ornate light posts.
  
  
• What do you want to highlight?
  Take a look at your landscape design. Are there any key features you would want to highlight? Is it an ornamental or signature tree? Is it a fountain or pond? Adding low-voltage lighting to the perimeter of key features, as well as uplighting, is an excellent way to draw attention to these beauties, even in the dark.
  
  
• How is the electrical installed?
  When you work with your landscape designer, he or she will map out the lines for where the irrigation and the electrical will run. Most electrical wiring is laid such that it blends with your plantings and so that it is protected from the elements. Your designer will also work with an electrician to make sure the proper adjustments are made to your household electrical system to accommodate the new lighting system.

If your landscape doesn't include any lighting and you would like to explore your options, please give us a call at 541-729-8029. Our design team can work with you to find a solution to bring nighttime enjoyment to your landscape.