Garden Light Craft Ideas

Lit Wooden Archways/Entrances

• Wooden archways are not very difficult to build, but designs can become complex if you have something special in mind. For your lit garden archway, start out by analyzing your garden. Where do you need the most light, and how much light is sufficient? When you have the answers, head to the lumber yard or hardware store for supplies: at least three wooden posts to create an entrance and several thin pieces of one-ply wood to be used for your design template. Your posts should form a simple entrance, and the plywood should run across the top horizontal post. For more flair, paint the plywood and add an expression or something cozy, such as "Amy's Garden." Next, dig two holes several feet deep and sink the archway into the ground. You may need help for this step, and you may want to pour cement in the holes for more permanence. Finally, purchase a string of 100 solar lights, because in the long run, solar lights are lower maintenance and less costly than electric lights. Wrap the lights around the archway and find a good sun-absorbing spot for the solar panel.

Lit Solar Rows in Your Garden

• A good idea for lighting your garden is a series of solar posts and strings running up and down your rows of vegetables and fruits. Solar-powered lights are a low-maintenance choice, because you buy them and then leave them alone. For this project to work, you should have a few inches between rows where you can walk without harming your produce. Space the light posts every few feet, and when the posts are in place, string your solar lights in a cresting fashion between each post. Make sure you place all your lights where they will receive sufficient sunlight during the day. Finally, put down plywood between your rows to make it easier for you to walk and crouch while you work in the garden.

A Bamboo-Lit Garden

• To light your garden and create a more tropical atmosphere, build a garden lighting system based around bamboo-shaped LED (light-emitting diode) lights. According to the Web site Save-on-Crafts, you can buy 30-inch sticks for less than $30 each. The water-resistant sticks come with three AA batteries and optional ground inserts. And LED lights, according to Dr. Klaus Angermaier, senior marketing manager of transportation and energy, at WACKER, offer, "High energy efficiency, a great color range, stability, long life, brilliance and new design options." For a more natural look, try interspersing the bamboo lights throughout your garden.