Plant Gardens 101

If you want to bring out the very best in your garden this summer consider your outdoor lighting. While it’s important that exterior areas such as those areas directly outside the home in both front and backyard have fixtures to provide lighting for visibility and security (homeowners can choose from a wide range of exterior fixtures such as wall mounts, post lights); it is also a great idea to incorporate lighting into the garden. If you are thinking about doing so, remember that there are a number of options to consider.

Choices in Landscape Lighting:

Basically, there are three ways to add lighting to your garden: line voltage, low voltage and solar. And, for most homeowners, especially the do-it-yourself kind, the final 2, low voltage and solar, are, in most cases the best choices. Why? Both can be installed quickly and safely, without risk of electric shock. These lighting types are also low or no energy consumers. As far as lighting options go, with a low voltage system you can accent or create visibility lights to decks, pathways, stairs, and garden beds. You can do the same with solar fixtures; however, there may be less choice. see: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/outdoor-lighting.htm (more…)

With the inability to plant directly into the earth, planters and pots offer an alternative growing medium. In cases such as an upstairs patio or a small outdoor space, the use of decorative pots, combined with wood planters, allows for both functionality and décor. By choosing your plants carefully you will be able to create a long-lasting show of greenery and create needed elements such as screening unwanted views or softening a corner.

Plants for Screening
It is very common to use plants on the patio or deck for the intention of screening. Screening can be something as basic as hiding an unattractive waste receptacle or adding privacy from a too-close neighboring home.

In these instances, you will want to consider the needed screening, height and width, and then choose evergreen trees and shrubs appropriate to your local microclimate. I recommend doing a simple site survey to note factors such as: prevailing wind and sun exposure.

What to use? The use of evergreen trees can be especially useful if planted in large pots (over 20” diameter) and planted closely to create a hedgerow effect. Shrubs with small leaves like boxwood or myrtle can be useful for creating low privacy screens: to maintain their height, a nicely sharpened pair of hedge clippers is useful.

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The other day I was in a client’s garden and was struck by an outdoor fixture I had never seen before, it was a solar spot light. The spot light was positioned within a beautiful round planter containing an architectural looking succulent. The fixture stays-put because it is designed with a stake at its’ base but the lamp itself can be swiveled to adjust to the desired position for washing light up upon the succulent. The solar panel is attached to the head of the fixture.

This fixture, I noticed was positioned in a sunny spot; essential for powering a solar light fixture. At dusk, the spot light should go-on because a sensor within tells it to do so. Darkness will spark the sensor to switch the spot light on, dawn will turn it off. Each day the process continues provided that there is enough sunlight to power and charge. It is best to have direct sunlight for stronger light. To achieve a bright floodlight effect, this solar powered spot light contains several LED bulbs (light emitting diode), about 7 or 8 LED’s within the lamp. For power there is a solar panel along with several replaceable and rechargeable batteries. (more…)