Landscape Designs - Planning You Own Garden Can Be Fun

If you've ever peered out into the dime-a-dozen patch of green that is your yard and thought 'This could actually look great if it was properly landscaped', you're not alone. People everywhere are taking the look of their yard more seriously and for good reason: What your property looks like reflects your personal style and taste, plus it plays a determining factor in the value of your home.

Landscape designs were once something that only those with loads of time or loads of money could indulge in. Now, however, more people are finding that they can easily piece together their moments of free time to create the yard that they deserve. Indeed, with the busy lives we all lead it isn't the easiest thing to accomplish, but it's certainly not the hardest by any stretch of the imagination.

If, like most people, you haven't the foggiest idea as to where to start when it comes to landscape designs, read on. By the time you finish reading this article, you'll be inspired to shut down your computer and start choosing between the hundreds of landscape designs that'll be whipping through your mind.

The most essential part of landscaping is planning. Without a plan, you're certain to run into problems when you're dirty and knee deep in a hole of one sort or another. There's an endless array of things you should take into consideration when planning landscape designs. Be sure to write everything down and even draw a sketch of what you'll be doing before you even try to find a shovel.

While the considerations are too numerous to list, here are some common ones that'll get you in the right frame of mind. Where is your yard the most sunny? The most shaded? Can you dig deep, or will you hit tree roots? Is there enough room for an entertaining area like a gazebo? Do you want to grow vegetables or fruit? What kind of quality does your soil have? Do you want a water feature? Can the kids still play without ruining my work?

I'll have to assume you get my point. Landscape designs are endless and you can find inspiration for them almost everywhere you look. Be sure to study up on different flowers you may want to include in a garden bed. Did you know that, with the right selection, you can have a blooming flower in each and every season? It's true.

Landscape designs are truly worth the effort and money not only because of the visual effect that is achieved, but the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when you're all done and relaxing in that wonderful space you've created. You selection of landscape designs will effortlessly show off your creative flair and personal style and the compliments you'll receive for it will only add to the fun. Truly, creating landscape designs is a perfect hobby that pays off in more ways than one.

Summary:

If you've ever peered out into the dime-a-dozen patch of green that is your yard and thought 'This could actually look great if it was properly landscaped', you're not alone. Landscape designs were once something that only those with loads of time or loads of money could indulge in. Now, however, more people are finding that they can easily piece together their moments of free time to create the yard that they deserve.

Cascade Light About your Home With Garden Lighting

Many could look at landscape lighting as an extravegence, missing the practical elements of light and safety. Step lighting and exterior lighting along paths increase safety and enhance the overall dramatic effect of your home. Still , landscape lighting is more about atmosphere than safety. Even an elementary water feature becomes stunning by supplying landscape lighting, trees or a sculpture can all benefit from a well thought out landscape lighting display.

Out-of-door lighting can be stunning in its beauty and provides a safe, secure and welcoming enviroment. Set up right the attractiveness that it creates is without doubt. Landscape lighting is developing into the most striking outdoor lighting improvement to gardens around the planet and is a compulsory "Yes" for householders looking for a prominent way to enhance their lives at home.

Out-of-door lighting is usually a wise choice, but particularly about water features, which present a particular danger at nightime and is perfect for highlighting paths. Quite popular today are low-voltage landscape lighting set-ups. These systems generally come complete with a step-down transformer. A vast variety of low voltage fixtures can be found to achieve a range of lighting effects.

Solar outside lighting renders many opportunities for you to include into your gardening project including pathway, driveway lights, accent lights, lanterns, fountains, and spotlights. Yet, the PV panel employed to charge the battery must be in an area where it will receive a great deal of direct sunlight. Now that manufacturing techniques have improved and price tags are falling , solar lighting has become the hottest segment in the horticultural industry. It is a fast easy option that can brighten up your yard decor or landscape.

You can always add to permanent lighting with table top lanterns and solar garden lighting located among shrubs to shed a glow about your garden. When planning your new garden landscaping project, it is paramount to nail down the number of lights involved. Try experimenting with your timing and using different systems to change the mood over the evening eg set for evening, not too subdued, and with a ruddy orange ambiance.There are lots of designs for exterior lighting from which you can pick out. Naturally, virtually all lighting, usually, is provided by the sun, modulated by clouds and strained by vegetation. Light, or its absence can vastly change the visual effect of your gardening efforts.

What to Know About Energy Efficient Landscape Lighting

Statistics show that lighting products consume 24% of the electrical power generated in the U.S. and lighting products make up for approximately 25-45% of household and commercial energy costs. Statistics such as these are causing individuals take a closer look at their home lighting and make changes to adopt more energy efficient products.

This high demand has brought new energy saving devices that are now available to the consumer for both home and office. Many such devices are easy to replace and install. Your checkbook will thank you too, because the pay back period of implementing energy saving products can be as quick as 1 year with dollar savings being realized on the very next monthly utility bill. Many of the available products can be used in a variety of ways including exterior home lighting, outdoor lighting, and landscape lighting. Below are a few great energy efficient products that should be readily available at your local lighting or hardware store.

Dimmers - Table top, floor or in wall. Dimming devices can save up to 50% of the energy used simply by dialing down the light intensity. Dimmers also provide for a soft and relaxing mood.

Compact Fluorescent – There are many CFL lamps available today. It is best to choose those with the best color rendition and many with dimmable features.

LED - These lamps are the newest generation of lamp technology. However, LED's have a lot of restrictions and guidelines. Choosing the best LED for the right application requires some knowledge of this technology and its capabilities. LED's are the most efficient of all lamp sources (including fluorescent). I suspect the LED collection will be one of the fastest growing segments of the lighting industry in the near future.

Motion and Occupancy Sensors - These handy devices allow lighting to come on when movement is detected in a room or area. Using PIR (passive infra red) technology, these switching devices prevent lights from being left on for long periods of time.

Timing Devices - Timers allow specific lights to come on and off at required time periods. This provides easy control for light function. Timers can easily be set for lights to come on and off at multiple times. They can also be adjusted for vacation mode as a safety feature.

Photo Controls - Like timing devises, photo control allows the light to come on at dusk and off at dawn. Most photo controls are used for exterior lighting but they can also be useful in many indoor applications.

Solar - This technology is totally "carbon neutral" and off the electrical grid. Until today, most of the solar products were weak and could not hold a charge for very long. Today, with the advent of new "photo voltaic" technology, solar lighting can be very practical and a great solution to dark areas without electricity. Most of the solar products are built for exterior use but many can be used in sunny rooms, sheds and structures with some natural UV light. It is important to note however, that solar will not work with artificial light.

The bottom line is that besides the financial savings of using energy efficient products in the home or office, the goal of the U.S. to become more energy independent will happen more quickly as consumers begin making the effort of changing energy habits. This can be as easy as replacing a light bulb or turning on a switch.

Outdoor Landscape Lighting Design Ideas

If you've spent a lot of time and money on plants and patios etc, you'll want to be able to show everyone, even when night falls. One way you can do this is by buying landscape lighting. Lighting is a great asset for any garden and can help create a magical and romantic feeling.

Ways to Create Landscape Lighting

You can approach lighting your garden in two different ways. It can either be very functional and used to deter burglars. Whilst on the other hand it can be used in a decorative and fun way to highlight particular features in your garden, such as a statue or rose arbour.

If you have never bought lighting for your garden before, don't worry, there's loads of lighting products that will give you the look you are after. Simply look into what types of lighting is available and understand how they should be used. Lighting can be very creative so think about where you're going to place them.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer choice out there but don't worry. There aren't that many, the most popular ones you'll find in the shops are:-

Pathway lights
Recessed lights
Decorative lanterns
Floodlights
Spotlights
Accent lights
Submerged pond lights

When you're garden is plunged into darkness, think about what features in your garden you particularly enjoy looking at during the day. This will give you an idea of where the lighting should be situated and what product to buy.

Be Imaginative

In the warmer months and you have guests over make sure the lighting you choose sits in well with the atmosphere you are looking for. Using lights which are too bright can make people feel uncomfortable. You're garden isn't an airport, you don't need landing lights!

How Can You Achieve This Look?

* Accent lights will work area along flower beds or under an archway.

* For garden features such as sun dial or pond, using lighting will really help bring these features out.

* For eating areas you'll want flood light which are stronger, so that you can see what you're doing.

* If you want a feature to be silhouetted, simply place a light behind it.

* Lights in amongst foliage will help create a subtle glow.

* Although white or cream lights will give a more classic look, there are other colours such as green and yellow to experiment with.

* You don't have to be conservative with you lighting. If you want a party atmosphere, choose lighting which is colored.

There are almost endless ideas of what you can do with outdoor landscape lighting. Just be careful you don't get carried away and buy every type of lighting under the sun. You just want to be playful with lighting, not make it look like you plan on holding an Elton John concert in your garden.

Installing Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

Having your outdoor landscaping look beautiful both day and night can be as simple as installing low voltage lighting. Low voltage lighting is available in abundance of styles and can add emphasis to key elements of your home or garden at night. Outdoor lighting will also make it safer on your walkways after the sun goes down. Low voltage landscape lights are easy and safe to install even if you are electrically challenged if you follow these simple instructions.

When installing low voltage landscape lighting, it's important to remember that you are still working with electricity. Always shut the power off before working and don't touch the wires near electrical panels. Make sure your hands are dry and wear rubber gloves for improved insulation. Consult your manufacturer's safety directions and always check with your utility company before digging so they can inform you of the location of underground wires or pipes.

Install the Transformer - The transformer should always be installed near a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. A GFCI outlet is designed to protect you from severe or fatal electric shocks. Because the GFCI detects ground faults, it can also prevent some electrical fires by interrupting the flow of electric current. The GFCI monitors electricity flowing in a circuit and quickly switches off power to that circuit if the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning. The transformer should be installed within one foot of the GFCI outlet and at least one foot above the ground. If an area away from the house, you can install a small post in the ground near the receptacle and mount the transformer to the post. Add a weatherproof cover to protect the transformer from sun and rain. Keep the transformer turned off or unplugged while installing the lights and wires.

Arrange Lights - Lay out the landscape lights and cable on top of the ground where you want them installed. Leave approximately eight to ten feet in between each light and keep the first light about ten feet from the transformer. Assemble the lights fixtures and attach the cables to the fixtures. Most lights come with quick connectors to simplify installation. Position the two parts of the connector over the cable and snap the two parts together. Strip the ends of the cable wire near the transformer and connect them to the transformer's terminals. Turn the system on to test the lights to ensure they work properly before burying the cable. If one or more of the lights do not work, check the connections making sure the connectors pierce the cable.

Bury the cable - Using a small garden hand shovel, dig shallow trenches about three to five inches deep in which to bury the cable. Lay the cable into the trenches leaving a small amount of slack at each light fixture to allow for light adjustment if necessary. Carefully fill the trenches with soil or mulch to cover the cable.

Finishing Touches - Attach the light fixtures to the ground stakes following the manufactures instructions. Carefully push the stake into the ground until the light is the desired height while ensuring the light is straight. If the ground is too firm, slice the dirt with a hand shovel first and then push the light into the slice created with the shovel.

If installed correctly, you should have a soft nightly glow rather than your yard lighting up like a football field. For more advanced installations, you can purchase a transformer that allows multiple cable connections allowing you to install individual cables to separate zones. This provides more flexibility in lighting and better illumination in certain zones if desired.

Enhance Your Garden With Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

Have you ever gone past someone's front yard in the evening and been enchanted by the low voltage landscape lighting that has been installed? I know I have. It is amazing how lights can make a garden look majestic at night.

Of course, low voltage landscape lighting is not only used to make a yard look stunning but it is also there as a safety factor. If you come home late at night and need to navigate your way to the front door or up the pathway to the back yard then it is a great idea to have some of these lights installed to help you safely reach your destination. Not everyone likes to have bright security lights glaring into the neighbor's yard, so these types of lights are the perfect option.

You will be happy to know also that you can pick them up at reasonable prices that wont break the bank. Low voltage landscape lighting can also be a great addition to the bbq and pool areas. You can buy ones that can be blended in to the environment unobtrusively.

The installation of these lights is quite simple too. You just buy the style that you think will suit and then lay them where you want them to go. Make sure that the transformer is in an inconspicuous but easy and safe to reach position. Once you have done this then you can start digging up where you want the cable to go and then once you have positioned the cable in, cover with soil, mulch, stones or whatever you like.

It is better if you have an outside power socket to connect to but many people choose to connect through a window to an inside power socket. It depends on how far away your transformer will be from the house. The choice is yours. For safety reasons it is better to call an electrician to add a power socket outside for you. You can always get an electrician to do the whole installation job for you as well if you don't want to do it yourself.

Some people like the other option of installing solar lights to their garden, which in turn saves a lot of work. They do not give of as good a light as low voltage landscape lighting but they can be installed much easier and of course faster. However, you do have to wait about 48 hours before they work properly as they need to be charged from the sun but after that period they should work every night.

Either of these types of garden lights can be bought at most large department stores or hardware stores and they should come with simple instructions. Which ever you decide on you will still be pleased with the effect that you will get in your garden at night.