Landscape Lighting Ideas and Maintenance in Tigard, Oregon
In Tigard, Oregon, with short summers and freezing winters, landscaping needs vibrant ideas. Landscape lighting is not easy, especially since only the right solutions would give the most beautiful experience. Yet, adverse weather conditions may bring about maintenance concern. We discuss outdoor lighting ideas with special mention of backyard lighting and outline some maintenance tips.
General Consideration
One needs to identify the focal points for possible lighting. Focal points are the areas that are likely to attract the attention of the homeowner and that of guests at first glance. The light should bring them out boldly and send a robust aesthetic message. Some of the areas that may need lighting include but are not limited to the following:
- Trees
- A fountain
- Your swimming pool
- The meandering pathways
- Your driveway
- The lawn itself
- The backyard in general
It is essential to ensure all those areas have proper lighting. In this case, we direct our focus to backyard lighting.
Backyard Lighting Ideas
While lighting the frontal landscape, most homeowners may be tempted to overlook the importance of a well-lit backyard. Yet, the backyard is crucial in terms of ensuring security. Some people build patios in the garden. Barbecue parties that extend into the night take place in such places. Proper lighting can allow holding the parties and continue them into the night without a hassle.
Types of Backyard Lighting
Pathway Lights
Lighting the pathway does not need very bright light. The light should only be enough to help find the way along the meandering paths. However, pathway lighting does not end at aiding visibility.
The effect of the light on the pathway is the primary purpose of landscaping. The design must be attractive and bring out the ambiance. The best lighting ideas should involve either in-ground or short lamppost to give focus to the ground. Also, the light should be on both sides of the paths.
Security Lights
Security lighting should be the brightest of all, which means it should use a higher voltage. The installation of security lights should leverage top places. The idea here is to cast wide enough to capture all the main strategic points.
Some floodlights come with sensors that capture motion while others have a design that keeps them off until there is a movement within their radius. Their sensory abilities switch the lights on to warn the homeowner or scare away anyone with ill intentions.
Hanging String Lights
String lights are mostly for entertainment events, even though they can be permanent. String lights can bring out their ambiance by perfect illumination in roofed patios with furniture.
These are areas where activities like dining may take place. The required lighting is, therefore, not so strong.
String lights can also bring out a nice ambiance when hung on trees. Building a simple wooden table and seat around the tree makes a perfect resting area both in the day and night.
There are ways of covering the hanging bulbs without covering their illumination. If adequately covered, the string lights can be a permanent installation.
Wall Lights
You can light your outdoor or backyard wall with the following sources:
- Lanterns with low voltage
- Spotlights
- In-ground lights
Maintenance Tips to Avoid Unnecessary Repairs
Pruning Overgrown Vegetation
Any overgrowing plants may encroach to where you have installed your light fixtures. They cause an obstruction and may end up damaging the bulbs and light stands. Again, they are the source of debris that falls on the light installations.
Leaves from the trees, insects excrement, branches, and sticks, are examples of debris with the potential of hampering the performance of outdoor lighting fixtures. Some of the light sources emit out heat, and so there will always be risks of fire when some of the unwanted objects encounter the heat.
Wires may be exposed haphazardly on the ground. Safety measures involve burying them into the soil. They are a safety risk since they can cause electrocution. Moreover, adverse weather conditions may cause damage to the exposed wires. If left, uncovered, they may cause homeowners to incur regular costs of replacing damaged cables or experiencing light outs when least expected.
Long-lasting LED can replace worn out ordinary bulbs. LEDs give out brighter illumination, and most of them come with warranties of longer than three years from the manufacturers. If they are not as bright as advertised, some manufacturers allow customers to replace them with brighter ones.
Glass lenses should remain clean all the time. Any soft cloth with water is enough for cleaning. The best time for cleaning is during the day when the lights are off.
Installing attractive landscape lighting is a massive achievement for any homeowner. However, maintaining the same ambiance as when the professional installer left it is a tall order. Yet, failure to observe proper maintenance steps may lead to incurring regular maintenance costs.
Besides, getting new ideas for improving both front yard and backyard lighting is a milestone in the right direction. You now have some basic ideas that you can apply in your yard and at your level of knowledge and skills. Some improvement and first-time installation procedures belong to professional installers for the perfect outcome. Contact our professionalism in landscape lighting at your home in Tigard, Oregon area.