Installing Outdoor Landscape Lighting

You're proud of your outdoor landscaping and love how it adds just the right finishing touches to your home. But does your pride and joy seem to disappear into the night as soon as the sun goes down?

Whether you want to enjoy the beauty of your blooms from your kitchen window or show them off to your neighbors and guests, don't settle for only being able to see your landscaping half the time. Instead, highlight your yard after dark by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting. And add drama and security to boot.

Landscape lighting options are both sophisticated and economical. And adding style and drama to your greenery and illuminating dark steps and paths is easier than ever. Even if you're a beginner, you can easily install outdoor lighting yourself – and do it quite affordably. You’ll be proud of the results, impress your guests, and even provide your home with added security while you're at it. Visit R.C. Walter & Sons True Value hardware store for all the products and tools you need. When you’re ready to get started, our easy-to-follow steps will light the way.

Low-voltage outdoor lighting is a great way to draw attention to trees, shrubs, plants or any other garden feature you’d like to showcase. You can also easily move fixtures to suit your whims or your plant growth. It’s also safe – transformers reduce standard voltage to just 12 volts, so there’s no risk of electrical shock to your kids or pets if the cable is accidentally cut by an errant lawn mower.

Step 1: Make a Plan
Before you can design a lighting system, it’s important to decide what you’d like it to do. Add drama? Create subtle highlights? Make walkways safer? Take a look out your windows, walk around your yard and pick out some likely spotlighting targets. Where should the lights be positioned? How many do you need? All of these variables will create different moods and effects, so consider many different possibilities.

Helpful Tips:
Want to get an idea of how the lighting might look? Shine a flashlight against each piece of greenery you’re considering lighting, varying its angle and position until you like what you see.

To avoid predictability – and boredom – think about mixing up spacing and patterns.

Be careful not to choose lighting locations that will get in the way of lawnmowers or foot traffic, or beam directly into your home. Or, even worse, your neighbor’s. Prepare to Light Up the Night.

Once you have some ideas in mind, draw a plan to help you visualize the results. Using a scale of 1/8 inch for every foot, include the location of your home’s exterior outlets, trees, shrubbery, walkways, fountains, deck or patio, as well as any areas you want to light for safety. Don’t worry if you’re not an artist – even a rough sketch will do the trick.

Helpful Tip:
  • Be sure to place the first fixture at least 10 feet from the transformer to allow for inevitable voltage drop. Any closer, and you risk premature bulb burnout.

    Step 2: Find Your Fixtures
    Now that you’ve determined how many light fixtures you need, which ones should you buy? There’s no one right answer, of course – it’s a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer unobtrusive outdoor fixtures, while others think decorative is the way to go. Visit your local True Value store for a variety of illuminating choices.

    Step 3: Measure by Measure
    All of your lights will be powered by a single low-voltage cable, so how much of it do you need? Use measuring tape to measure the distance from the closest exterior outlet to the first light, and then to each light in turn. Add the measurements, and you’ve got your cable length. Most kits come with 50 feet of cable wire, but you’ll probably need more.

    Helpful Tips:
    If your addition skills are a bit rusty, use this simple trick: run a piece of rope along the course and mark where it ends. Now just measure the rope. It doesn’t hurt to buy a longer cable than you actually need. Plan for the future – you may decide to change your design scheme one day.

    Step 4: Transform Yourself
    Transformers are electrical good guys – they reduce standard voltage from 120 volts to a safe 12 volts. Most low-voltage cable wire kits come with a transformer, so be sure it’s adequate for your needs. Add up the total wattage of the fixtures you’ve chosen and choose a transformer with slightly more – again, we’re thinking ahead to the day you add more lighting.

    Let’s Get Lighting

    Step 5: Get the Hook Up

    Ready to begin? Hook up the low-voltage cables to the transformer then plug the wires into the GFCI electrical outlet. Now it’s time to attach the cables to your fixtures – but don’t set them into the ground just yet. Start with the first light, attaching it to the wire connectors around the cable then snake the cable between each fixture until everything’s connected.

    Helpful Tips:
  • Make sure the transformer hangs at least 12 inches above grade.
  • It’s a good idea to shield your electrical outlet with a storm-weather cover. If your lighting kit doesn’t already come with one, buy one.
  • If your transformer isn’t equipped with a timer, consider buying one. It’s a lot more convenient – and safer – to have regularly scheduled lighting.
  • Obvious, but necessary – don’t forget to insert a light bulb into each fixture.

    Step 6: Light It Up
    Okay, it’s show time. Switch on the lights to make sure they’re working. If not, make sure all the connections and bulbs are secure. Because voltage dissipates, it may seem that the bulbs dim a bit as you get farther away from your house. If you find yourself wishing they’d appear brighter, replace the cable with a higher-voltage model instead.

    Step 7: Insert Here
    Once you’re sure everything’s working, it’s time to set everything firmly into the ground. Use your rubber mallet to gently tap the fixtures into place then take a shovel and dig 3 inch furrows for the cable. Lay the cable inside and cover securely with soil or mulch.

    Helpful Tip:
  • Make sure the cables are completely buried and flush with the ground. After all, you don’t want anyone to trip or mow over your lighting lifeline.

    Let the Light Show Begin
    You’re done! Now your landscaping looks just as beautiful at night as it does by day – maybe even better. Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the results of your illuminating handiwork.