Garden Lighting Adds Beauty and Functionality
With only a few days left until spring, we know you’ve been busy dreaming up ideas for planning your garden. There are so many things to consider – when to plant what, making sure this plant will grow well next to that plant -- but have you considered adding nighttime landscape lighting?
Not only does adding light to your garden make it more functional, it also adds beauty you can enjoy at any time. It seems counterintuitive to spend so much time and effort planning for something you can only enjoy half of the day! When you add an outdoor lighting system, places like your garden become a second living space that you can use to entertain guests, have a barbecue, or simply to sit and enjoy nature.
There is also a practical benefit from having outdoor lighting in your garden – LEDs are great for plants. In fact, they’re so good for plant growing that NASA uses them in space. And according to a study performed by the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University, “the spectral quality of LEDs can have dramatic effects on crop anatomy and morphology as well as nutrient uptake and pathogen development.”
As you can see, implementing an outdoor lighting system for your garden is the smart choice for anyone who wants to add beauty and functionality, increase their outdoor living spaces, and improve the quality of their plants.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your lighting needs, please feel free to request a free consultation online.
We’re a local business and we've been lighting up Nashville since 2012. Our team has years of experience creating and installing unique and elegant outdoor lighting designs, and providing maintenance and repair services to homes and businesses across Middle Tennessee. Our award-winning company has been voted 1st in Nashville House & Home for landscape lighting for four consecutive years and Best of Houzz for the last three years.
Located in Goodlettsville, Light Up Nashville services Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, the surrounding areas and beyond.
Outdoor illumination of gardens and landscapes
Central Park on a foggy night
Landscape lighting or garden lighting refers to the use of outdoor illumination of private gardens and public landscapes; for the enhancement and purposes of safety, nighttime aesthetics, accessibility, security, recreation and sports, and social and event uses.
Light pollution exacerbated by excessive, misdirected or obtrusive use of light, but even carefully used light fundamentally alters natural conditions. As a major side-effect of urbanization, it is blamed for compromising health, disrupting ecosystems and spoiling aesthetic environments.
History
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Early design
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The public landscape and gardens have been illuminated for as long as interior structures have – for beauty, security, circulation, and social occasions; since ancient times by firelight from wood, candles, and animal-plant oil fells in torches, sconces and lanterns. Since the 17th century's introductions of new interior illumination fuels, the technology has then been used outdoors and in gardens. As systems were developed for power delivery, Gas lighting of the 19th century and electric light of the 20th century became part of exterior functioning and design.[1]
Twenty-first century
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Conventionally generated and sourced electricity remains the most used source for landscape lighting in the early twenty-first century. With the combination of increasing demand for more efficient lighting, increasing availability of sustainable designs, global warming considerations, and aesthetic and safety concerns in garden and landscape design the methods and equipment of outdoor illumination have been evolving. The increasing use of LEDs, solar power, low voltage fixtures, energy efficient lamps, and energy-saving lighting design are examples of innovation in the field.[1]
Lighting components
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There are many different types of landscape lighting systems, controls and switching, wiring connections, fixture types, functions-purposes-styles, and light sources.
- Components can include:
- Power
- connection to main property power source (code and permit determined)
- Transformers (12v and multi-tap transformers)
- Timers
- Light sensor switching (photocells)
- motion sensor switching
- Manual 'light switches'
- automated light switching units-systems
- remote lighting switching - on-property devices, off-site phone or online systems
- Electric wiring
- conduit - underground for line voltage, vulnerable locations, under or in constructed elements-pavements
- cable, wire - underground per codes for line and low voltage, above ground at stake-mounted and tree mounted fixtures.
- Light fixtures - fixed location - line voltage (120 V U.S. or 240 V Europe) and low voltage (12 V U.S.)[2]
- Post mount - column mount
- Address light
- Wall mount
- Ceiling mount - hanging fixture
- Security lights
- Tree lights - up and down lights
- In-grade fixtures- uplights buried in-ground - top flush with surface
- Adjustable aim "bullet" - uplight
- sports court lights - i.e.: tennis courts
- portable fixtures "hard-wired" or "plug-in" 'wet location rated' interior style fixtures
- string lighting - "holiday lights" - bulbs and LED
- Light fixtures - low voltage (12V U.S.) - modest location adjustments
- path lights
- area lights
- uplights (directional, spot, and flood lights)- stake mount
- wall lights - surface mount
- tree-mount lights - down lights
- deck lights - surface mount
- well lights - mounted below grade
- hardscape lights- integrated into walls.
- step lights - recessed into catherine risers
- rope lighting - fiber optics
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Underwater
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An illuminated fountain at the Teatro Principal in Mexico
See also
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References
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Further reading
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- The Landscape Lighting Book; Janet Lennox Moyer; John Wiley and Sons; 2013; ISBN 978-1-118-07382-7 (cloth) 978-1-118-41593-1 (ebk.).