Forget Trendy Garden Lights - Try This Underrated Method Instead

As an avid gardener, I'm always looking for new ways to highlight the beauty of my outdoor space. Recently, I decided to move away from using trendy strings of garden lights to try a more underrated lighting method - uplighting. Here's why uplighting is a superior choice and how you can use it in your own garden.

Why Uplighting is Underrated

Uplighting refers to lighting that is directed up from the ground onto plants, trees, architectural features, or other elements. Compared to the more popular downlighting methods like strand lights, uplighting offers some key advantages:

• Subtle and natural look: Uplighting creates a soft glow that looks like moonlight. It highlights the natural textures and shapes of plants and trees. Strings of lights can look cluttered and artificial.

• Emphasizes key features: Uplighting draws the eye upward to focal points like large trees, an arbor, or architectural elements on your home. It creates depth and drama.

• Flexible and customizable: With uplighting, you can choose exactly what to illuminate in your garden. It can be adapted as your landscaping evolves. Strand lighting is more one-size-fits-all.

• Energy efficient: LED uplights use very little electricity but produce bright, focused beams ideal for accent lighting. Most strand lights are inefficient incandescents.

For these reasons, uplighting deserves more attention as a sophisticated, customizable lighting choice.

Getting Started with Uplighting

Implementing uplighting in your outdoor space is straightforward:

• Choose locations. Determine what plants, trees, structures or other features you want to highlight. Position lights to point up at these from nearby ground or deck areas.

• Select fixture types. Compact LED spotlights or floodlights work well. Opt for weatherproof fixtures with adequate lumens. Hardwired or solar power are good options.

• Aim carefully. Adjust each uplight's angle to graze the target surface subtly without glare. Use lower intensity for diffuse lighting or highlight smaller areas.

• Use warm white light. Look for 2700K or 3000K LEDs to create a natural, inviting ambiance. Cool white light appears stark.

• Try different colors. For festive lighting, choose color-changing uplights to shine on trees or structures. Warm hues like red and orange work nicely.

Uplighting Inspiration for Your Garden

To inspire you, here are some uplighting ideas perfect for enhancing any garden or backyard:

Illuminate Architectural Features

• Light up an arbor or pergola to create an inviting glow in an entertainment area. Position small spotlights angled up at the sides.

• Accentuate facade details on a home, shed or garage with narrow-beam uplights. Try lighting a textured brick wall or illuminating eaves.

Spotlight Trees and Plants

• Upward-facing floodlights in a bed surrounding a large specimen tree provide majestic moonlight effects.

• Graze light along hedge or shrub rows. This adds depth and emphasizes the organic shapes.

• Subtly backlight flower beds to make colors appear richer at night. Use spread lenses.

Add Ambiance to Paths and Seating Areas

• Illuminate garden pathways by placing uplights along the edges, focused inwards to light the way.

• Shine lights up onto overhead canopies above bench seating to generate a cozy feel.

Uplighting allows you to transform your garden into a gorgeous nighttime oasis. Ditching the strand lighting for strategic uplighting can create a far more refined ambiance. Be creative and have fun experimenting to find unique ways to use uplighting in your own outdoor space!