How to Design & Install an Exterior Landscape Lighting System
Exterior landscape lighting is one of the best ways to give depth and visual interest to a lawn. The illumination of a yard, ornamental plants and landscape features highlights a property's strengths. Furthermore, the ease of installation and low cost make landscape lighting an attractive option when thinking of ways to improve a home.
Landscape lighting can be installed at any time of the year, however think about when seasonal plants will bloom or develop attractive foliage and be sure to orient the lights to illuminate these.
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
- Landscape lighting transformer
- Low-voltage cable
- Edger or trencher
- Path/garden lights with light bulbs and connectors
- Low-voltage spotlights
Instructions
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Sketch the property and general features on paper. This drawing does not have to be to scale, but it is helpful for planning for the number of lights and length of cable necessary. After the drawing is completed, look at the edges of the property, pathways, border, special plantings and ornamental features. The landscape lighting should highlight these.
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Draw the proposed locations for the lighting on the sketch. For borders, pathways and property lines, plan to evenly place garden lights every six to eight feet. The garden lights should not be placed any farther apart than this distance because the lighting would seem too sparse and not visually coherent.
For ornamental trees or sculptures, plan to place one or two spotlights on each feature. If two spotlights will be used, separate the lights so the tree or sculpture will be lit on two sides. This gives three-dimensionality to the feature at night.
Special plantings require garden lights for low growth and spotlights for tall elements. Be creative with the placement of the lighting, but do not over-illuminate the plantings relative to the rest of the property.
After drawing the light locations, create a strategy for placing the low voltage cable. Most lighting transformers can only accommodate one low voltage cable, so try to connect all lights on the sketch with one continuous, snaking cable line. If it is not possible to use one cable, another transformer and cable may be necessary.
The lighting transformer must be placed on or near the house. If the transformer is photoelectric, place the transformer near an exterior electrical outlet with access to daylight. If the transformer uses a timer, it can be placed near an electrical outlet in a garage, shed, or basement. The low voltage cable must connect to the transformer, so in the sketch, connect the cable line to the proposed location on or near the house.
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Place the spotlights and garden lights in the locations given on the drawing. Either metal or plastic lights can be used, but metal lights may be better for high-traffic areas.
Pace the path of the electric cables and estimate the distance. A pace, or two strides, equals five to six feet. The total distance paced is the length of cable necessary.
Make sure the transformer has enough wattage for the number of lights placed. A chart is provided at home improvement stores or in the transformer's instructions. If the wattage is not ample, the bulbs will glow dimly, so be sure the wattage is appropriate.
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With an edger or trencher, trace the proposed cable path in the lawn. This creates a narrow ditch to bury the low-voltage cable. If desired, the cable also can be placed on the surface of the ground, but watch out when mowing, trimming or digging.
Connect the low-voltage cable to the transformer and lay the cable along the the narrow ditch. Connect the lights to the cable. Remember to follow the connection instructions provided with the lights.
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When evening comes, turn on the transformer and lights. Make sure the lights are working and placed where desired. If not, take a flashlight and adjust the lights and assemblies. If everything is fine, wait until daylight and bury the cable in the narrow ditch. Close or cover the ditch.
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Tips & Warnings
Some may desire to light surfaces of the house. If so, place spotlights within 18 inches of the house and orient the lights upward.
Though landscape lighting is low voltage, the electricity can still shock. Be careful when handling the transformer and cable. If cable splicing is necessary, remember to use electrical nuts and tape.
