Low Voltage Ground Landscape Lighting

Design Considerations

• Before selecting a system of low voltage lighting to install, consider a few things. Determine what exactly should be featured in your landscape. Consider the existing plants, slopes and elements of both the house's facade and any existing hardscape, such as walkways and walls. Make sure that a properly sized transformer is selected for the number and types of lights chosen. Consider multiple transformers if the load is likely to be too much capacity for one.

Types of Lighting

• In addition to a near infinite number of styles, there are several types of low voltage landscape lights available. Uplights do as their name suggests by shining light from ground level up into the canopy of trees, shrubs or perennials. Downlights, which may be attached to a house or tree, shine down like a spot light to highlight desirable landscape features or plants. Backlighting creates an entirely different mood and way to view the landscape. Other types include pathlights, spotlights and specialty lights.

Installation

• Landscape lighting should be installed after all other elements of the landscape are in place. This allows the property owner to assess what should be highlighted. Before the installation, a utility stakeout should be performed to know the exact location of other underground utilities so that they are not accidentally cut while digging. Metal or PVC conduit should be installed first under walkways and other barriers. The wire should then be laid and then the fixtures attached. When everything is in place, the power supply can then be wired to the transformer and the transformer plugged in to test and set timers.

Benefits

• The benefits of installing a low voltage landscape lighting system are not only aesthetically pleasing, but practical and functional as well. Safety and security are enhanced. Paths can be illuminated to help avoid missteps and falls and entry points to a house can be better lit as well. Landscape lighting can also add value to a home's landscape, though this should not be the primary goal as one's taste in landscape fixtures is as individual as one's interior decorating choices.