Rockery Lighting

About Rockeries

• A rockery is generally located at the perimeter of a property where obstructions won't be a problem for mowers and other landscaping equipment. Rockeries are often build on naturally occurring slopes to act as a retaining wall. Rocks are heavy so building your rockery in cooler weather is recommended. Basalt, granite and sandstone are commonly used, according to the ACSGarden website. Other types of rock may have greater availability in your areas. The rockery is built from the bottom upward, always keeping natural placement in mind as you stack the materials, mixing flat surfaces with more prominent profiles for variety.

Landscape Lighting Options

• A wide variety of landscape lighting fixtures are available. Pole lights, ground-level lights, tree lights and low voltage lights are commonly used in landscaping home properties. For rockeries, lights may be wound throughout the rocks and plants to provide upward illumination to shadow rock surfaces. Landscape lights generally have cables that can be buried invisibly beneath the soil. Lighting is generally installed after all the other landscape elements are in place.

Lighting for Rockeries

• Low voltage lighting is a natural choice for rockeries. Spike lights can be set securely between rocks and plants and concealed from view. Downlights installed above the rockery can shine down to highlight and enhance natural shadowing. LED lights can also be used for rockery illumination. Adjustable twin spike lights can be moved in different directions to highlight various features of the rock garden.

Special Considerations for Lighting Rockeries

• Rockery lighting must be as inconspicuous as possible so you don't detract from the natural setting that's the ultimate goal of the rock garden. Lights should be small and set in fixtures that can be hidden among the colors of the rocks and plant materials. Choose black or bronze fixtures, avoiding white which will stand out too much against the rocks. You can find strings of lights for rock gardens with fixtures that simulate the look of rocks.