Garden Lighting

Firstly, the statutory words of warning, but in this case very important ignore it at your peril! Using mains voltage outside is dangerous, if you get a shock from the mains whilst stood on wet ground it may very easily prove to be fatal. Mains wiring outside should only be carried out by a competent professional. There are, however, many low voltage systems available on the market which the competent d-i-yer can install that can be both decorative and useful.

If you are having a mains system installed just check that the circuits will be rcd protected, if this is the case and a fault develops on your system then the power will be cut off before you receive a big enough dose of electricity to do you any significant harm. Also ensure any underground cabling is armoured and is covered by warning tape so you do not accidentally dig it up

The first step in planning what you want is to realise the full breadth of what is available – there is far more than just lighting.

Outdoor sound systems

Music on the patio for those hot summer evenings and parties or barbeques? Or the sound of birdsong and cicadas coming from the shrubbery? The best answer here is to get outdoor, waterproof speakers and arrange to wire them into your indoor sound system with an isolating switch so the sound outside can be turned off when not required. Modern sound systems can be bought to transmit via radio so the need for hard wiring is avoided. Do consider your neighbours when planning your system – keep speakers pointing away from adjoining properties and do not play your system too loud! The choice of low voltage or mains power here will depend on the extent and power of the system you want

Water Pumps

Not only for fountains, waterfalls and streams for your water features, but what about a mister for a mysterious and dramatic effect while at the same time providing your ferns with the airborne water that they crave. Low voltage systems are generally suitable for running most pumps.

Sockets

Can save long trailing extension leads if you use electric hedge trimmers, lawnmowers or strimmers a long way from the house. It could be useful for running automatic irrigation systems, using your shredder by the compost heap etc., etc. Most appliances you would want to run from a socket would require mains voltage.

The next article will deal with outside lighting and after that you should be in a position to decide if low voltage systems can provide all your requirements or if you need to call in a professional electrician

Sorry to be boring if you read the safety bit before, but it is important. Firstly, the statutory words of warning, but in this case very important ignore it at your peril! Using mains voltage outside is dangerous, if you get a shock from the mains whilst stood on wet ground it may very easily prove to be fatal. Mains wiring outside should only be carried out by a competent professional. There are, however, many low voltage systems available on the market which the competent d-i-yer can install that can be both decorative and useful.

If you are having a mains system installed just check that the circuits will be rcd protected, if this is the case and a fault develops on your system then the power will be cut off before you receive a big enough dose of electricity to do you any significant harm. Also ensure any underground cabling is armoured and is covered by warning tape so you do not accidentally dig it up

Lighting a garden at night can have two functions, either decorative or functional, or of course both.

Functional Lighting

In areas with no street lighting it is a good idea to have outside lights to enable guests to leave their cars and get to your front door in safety. It is not necessary to use the cheap motion sensor (pid) controlled floodlights that became so overused in the 1980’s, there are many more decorative and attractive alternatives available these days.

You may have other paths you need to illuminate - to the dustbin, compost, garden shed etc and what you need to think about very carefully is how much light you need in each area. If you just want a low level of light just so you can see where the path is, then a low voltage system will provide this. But if you want to see in any detail you will probably need a mains system. It can well be worth buying a small low voltage system and trying it in the different areas if you decide it is not sufficient it can always be used elsewhere.

If you party outside or barbeque a lot then patio lighting is a must, and again there are systems available to give all sorts of wonderful effects, but do ensure the lighting is especially good around the barbeque or near steps LED lights can be effective for highlighting steps) or drops to avoid accidents.


Decorative Lighting

Here subtlety is most important, floodlighting is rarely either good or useful. Use the lighting to paint picture of your garden at night, but always remember that you must see that picture from where you will most likely be when the lights are on, usually your lounge, dining room or patio.

Spotlights, frequently coloured, trained onto impressive trees or shrubs or other focal points in the garden usually form the main elements of the picture, with lower level illumination of water features, flower beds or minor focal points providing the background or setting.

On a practical note ensure that spotlights illuminate their subjects by pointing away from where you will be standing, if they point towards you, you will be blinded by them! Also ensure each light has a long enough trailing (armoured if 240 volts) flex to enable you to move it.

Many low voltage systems are available which will be suitable for most small gardens, but again buying a small low voltage system and trying it is a minimal cost compared to having a mains installation professionally installed.