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Gardener’s Helper
Lighting Up The Night
Incorporating lighting
into your garden
increases beauty and safety
BY CINDY VANDERTOL
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When designing your garden spaces,
don’t forget to incorporate lighting.
It is an important aspect of landscaping
that will increase safety, showcase
plantings, and create atmosphere.
We can extend the amount of time we
spend outdoors working, entertaining,
and relaxing by brightening
our backyard retreats.
Safety first!
Security lighting of entranceways,
porches, and garages should
always be a primary concern.
Illuminating your walkway edges,
patios, and steps directs the flow of
traffic and increases safety for visitors
to your property. Remember to illuminate
a path from above or below
eye level to avoid blinding glare.
The addition of a programmable
timer can provide extra protection
for your home while you are away. It
is designed to switch on your security
lights at a specific night-time hour to
give your home a lived-in look.
Two types of sensors can also be
used to increase security. Motion sensors
respond when motion is detected
in the immediate area, thereby lighting
your way safely or providing a
deterrent to intruders. Photo-sensors
respond to lowering light levels at
dusk to turn your yard lights on and
then shut them off in the daylight
hours. These features help to conserve
energy and are cost-efficient
additions to your lighting plans.
Feature lighting
Feature lighting focuses on an
interesting piece of garden art, a
specimen tree or shrub, or a unique
garden planting. This type of lighting
uses a variety of techniques to
create a focal point for viewing the
night-time beauty of your garden
from inside or outside your home.
Positioning spotlights to crosslight
a tree or statue adds depth and
texture to a view. To accent a shrub
or tree with an interesting branch
structure, try the technique of silhouetting.
This approach involves positioning
your lights behind and below
the plant to create a very dramatic
Due West/Due East Magazine • Spring 2008 Ottawa Page 40