How to Set Lighting in Concrete

Draw a 17-to-18-inch diameter circle in the ground using spray chalk to designate the perimeter of the hole. Refer to the installation instructions for your light to determine whether a different diameter hole is required.

Dig out the soil for the center of the circle using a post digger until the hole is 2 feet deep. Again, refer to your specific light instructions since taller lights may require deeper holes.

Run an electrical cable from the home’s breaker box or other electrical supply out to the location of the post. Dig a 6-inch deep trench using a shovel and insert the cable into it and up through the post hole. Fill the trench in with soil and stamp it down with your feet.

Insert a piece of PVC pipe or conduit over the cable to protect it until the concrete dries.

Fill a wheelbarrow with a bag of concrete mix and the amount of water specified on the bag. Mix the concrete using a shovel until no part of the powder remains dry. Shovel the concrete mix into the bottom of the post hole until it is 12 inches deep. Smooth the top of the concrete with a trowel.

Hammer four wooden stakes into the ground 2 feet away from the post at equal distances. Wrap wire around the light post and twist it securely around one of the stakes. Repeat the process on each remaining stake to hold the post upright while the concrete dries. Wait 24 hours to allow the concrete to dry and remove the wires and the stakes.