Landscape Lighting

To begin, Whitehead advises, look out the windows of your home from the inside. See what objects and plantings you want to focus on. Then envision a layer of fill light to create a sense of depth and dimension from the focal point. Use low-wattage bulbs--such as 20- to 35-watt multi-mirror reflector bulbs--in your new lighting system.

Whitehead estimates that the professional cost to install a lighting system on his property would be approximately $2,000 for fixtures and labor. He'll do it himself, however, which should cost him only about $1,400 and take about one day to accomplish.

Figure A

Step One: Installing the Transformer

The transformer (figure A) is a weatherproof box that changes the 120-volt house current to 12 volts required for landscape lights. The box is easy to install and can be purchased with a timer. Be sure to turn off electricity at your house before you begin installation.

When purchasing the transformer, let the salesperson know how many fixtures you 'll be attaching so you get a transformer with the correct capacity.

Step Two: Installing the Low-Voltage Wire

Once the transformer is in place, it's time to install the low-voltage wire, which can be purchased at most lighting stores or electrical distributors. Peel back the wire about one and a half inches from the end and screw on wire nuts.

Bury the wires in your garden beds so they'll be hidden from view. Tip: There's no need to dig deep like you have to with 120-volt wire.

Step Three: Placing the Lights

Now comes the part that requires a little artistry--placing the lights. Work with a friend so that one person can adjust the light and the other can see the effect from the seating area. Choose green or black fixtures (figure B) that blend in with the plants in the landscape. You want the effect to be one of naturally occurring light.

Figure C

Whitehead is using three types of lighting:

• Low-voltage accent lights hooked up to the remote transformer installed earlier.
• Line voltage lighting, which uses household current (figure C).
• How to change house fixtures into low-voltage lights.

Place accent lights close to objects you want to highlight, says Whitehead, no more than 12 feet away. When hanging lights in trees, place them no more than eight to 10 feet off the ground so that changing bulbs will be easy.

Figure D

From the focal points, wire a couple of portable fixtures and get a friend to tell you when you're achieving a natural feel for the so-called fill lighting (figure D).

Plants for Dramatic Lighting

Some plants light better than others, explains Whitehead. Consider the following plant features when deciding whether to highlight a particular specimen:

• form
• shape
• transparency.

For instance, look at the translucency of the leaves and decide whether the plant would look better lit from above or below. Ferns, says Whitehead, look better when you uplight them (place the light at ground level facing upward) because their lacy leaf patterns become more visible. Philodendrons, on the other hand, with their large opaque leaves, are better downlighted (lit from above) so you can see leaf shapes.

Lighting for Special Occasions

Here are some ideas for creating special effects for special occasions:

• Little Italian lights are inexpensive (about $6 a string) and can be wound around the trunks of sculptural trees to show off their silhouettes. Or weave the lights among vines on stair rails for a twinkle effect that will draw people down the steps.
• Low-voltage umbrella lights add a soft glow above the table. Look for ones that are weatherproof, then permanently install them on the patio umbrella stand.
• Inexpensive clip lights are good for temporary lighting that can be taken down after a party.
• Japanese paper lanterns (about $6) can be used with strings of light bulbs; the lights cost about $5 a foot and are available at home-supply centers.
• Hanging lanterns are a little pricier ($25-35) but produce a stunning effect with lit votive candles floating among the greenery of the garden.