Adding lights to your garden is a great way to cheaply add some interest to your garden. By using different types of lighting you can create a superb ambience that you can enjoy all year round. As side from safety issues there are two very important points that need to be considered when choosing how to light your garden, these points are; how much will they contribute to light pollution and will they deter any nocturnal wildlife. When looking at each of the below suggestions be sure to consider there environmental impact. Here are four suggestions of lights that could be used together or individually:
Post Lights
Lights that are suspended from at waist height or less are generally referred to as post lights. The evolution from traditional lanterns stakes in to the ground is clear, they are however available in a range of formats from the more traditional to contemporary designs. Unless you are intending on concreting the post lights in place they are not ideal for a garden that has boisterous dogs or children than like to play outdoors, but if this isn’t an issue they make ideal patio lights.
Brick Lights
Brick lights as their name suggest are usually place within walls at the time of building the wall. With a bit of elbow grease they can easily be fitted afterward by chiselling out a brick and inserting the light. Brick lights tend to have baffles which point the light down on to the ground and consequently the ambient light they produce is very appealing. Other forms of brick light feature low power LED so that the bricks emit a soft glow which is ideal for not discouraging wildlife or contributing to the issuer of light pollution.
Ground Lights
Similar to decorative lights, ground lights are sunken in to the ground and point light upwards. They will however look stunning, highlight step edges and illuminate specimen plants and tree’s beautifully. It does have to be noted that ground lights do contribute greatly to light pollution, so please think carefully before you use them.
Decorative Lights
This sorts of lights are great for adding some interest in any garden. Lights classifieds as decorative lights are generally reserved for those that don’t give out a useable light. Lantern string lights and other types of string lights are a good example of this sort of lighting. Decorative lights definitely should not be discounted though as they can add a real depth to any garden without deterring any wildlife that may visit.
I would highly recommend solar powered decorative lights as they offer greater flexibility as to where you can position them.
