How to Check the Layout of Landscape Lighting in Your Yard

Before spending a lot of time and expense installing landscape lighting in your yard, test the layout of the lights first to make sure they will have the desired result.

To test the layout of landscape lighting in your yard:

• Tape flashlights to stakes and position them around the yard at night to see how halogen or incandescent landscape lights will look.
• Place luminaries – composed of a white bag with sand and a candle inside – around your yard at night to mimic the look of solar powered landscape lighting.

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

• Design Tips for Landscape Lighting (article)
• How to Install Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting in Your Yard (video)
• How to Repair Landscape Lighting in Your Yard (video)
• Installing Landscape Lighting for the Kuppersmith House (video)

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Lighting can add a lot of drama and interest to your garden. But you know, one of the problems is, you’re not exactly sure what it’s going to look like even if you see it on paper. So whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, I suggest that you give it a try and lay something out.

Now, as you can see I have taped this flashlight to this stick. And I’ve already tried to do a lay out. I have spaced them about four feet between each other. And this light I think gives the impression of halogen light or incandescent light. And so many of the lights for a garden are down facing. So this is a really good idea for that.

Now, over here I have some luminaries, which are basically just bags with sand inside and a candle. And this gives an idea of what a solar powered light might be like. When you do your layout, make sure to be careful of where the mower goes. And also, you want to make sure that you avoid the light shining into your neighbors house or your own house.