Landscape Tree Lighting Tips

Begining your outdoor tree lighting transformation.

Landscape tree lighting tips. In fact you should begin with the primary focus of your outdoor lighting the most prized part of your property. This type of lighting has no cords to be hidden. This beam spread is also ideal for general accent lighting. You can choose to highlight the trunk of generally larger trees or the underside of the tree s canopy on larger or smaller trees.

When it comes to lighting your landscape a little goes a long way. The easiest landscape lighting to place in the backyard is solar lighting below. In this scene designed by chicago area lighting firm night light inc uplit trees and downlighting from the house cast ample light on the walkway. As striking as your trees may be in the daylight they can enhance the gloom night casts over your landscape.

You don t have to light every inch of your landscape says vice president dean macmorris. You need to assess the tree s size structure shape texture and position. Don t focus on outdoor landscape lighting first while your mind is on landscape lighting you actually shouldn t focus on lighting up your pathways and other landscape features like your trees first. Use a 10 or 15 degree beam for tall thin structures or foliage like grazing trees or porch columns.

It is used to create drama with a taller structure or tree. It should be positioned in such a way that the photovoltaic cell in the lighting fixture receives enough light during the day to allow it to shine at night. This technique gives small trees like dwarf palms an arresting impact despite their diminutive size. Another approach to path lighting is to forego it altogether.

Small spindly or narrow trees will often appear more dramatic when up lighted. Uplighting means simply using grounded lamps to direct light up at the trunk or canopy of a tree in your landscape. Up lighting is one of the most basic forms of landscape lighting. That s because your eyes need less light outdoors than they do indoors in order to see light shadow and pattern.

Set a budget and buy the lights. 25 45 degrees for medium height and width such as a prized tree. 55 60 degrees for short wide items like broad trees or shorter wider structures. Planning which trees you want to light is the key ingredient in your quest for perfection in outdoor tree lighting.

Position an in ground well light directly underneath a narrow tree. Lighting your trees in the evening adds safety and appeal even when darkness falls. Before lighting any trees there is some planning needed.