If you are looking to improve the overall look of your property and home, you should definitely consider landscape lighting. Landscape lighting has been used throughout the years as a tool to show off yards, landscapes, walkways, and homes. Not only does landscape lighting help to show off these amenities at night, but they also provide other features such as safety, lower crime, and lowers your insurance risk.

Landscape light fixtures use very low voltage electric current to help the fixtures stay on all night long and to eliminate any risk of fire or explosion. The lights range in size from being very small, to very large depending on the type of look you are trying to achieve. Electric lighting is easy to install as you can really mix and match large and small lights as each light plugs into the electric wire running underground.

Because of the different size of the light fixtures, each fixture is made to give a certain type of effect. For example, if you have a large tree in your yard that you would like to show off, a flood light is really the best type of light to use. If you have flowers or leafy growth plants that need some attention, small spot lights are a great way to accent these types of plants.

The gardens in your yard can be very pleasant to walk through at night with a little help from low voltage light fixtures. Outdoor lights can also be used to light up statues, artwork and fountains. Many people use lights to light up ponds and waterfalls within their yards as well.

Using landscape lighting that brightens up pathways and walkways is also a very important issue to consider. Safety is a huge issue these days and the last thing you want is someone getting hurt on your walkway or falling down because a walkway was not well lit. Having lighting to show visitors walkways and pathways is a great way to make your property more safe and to reduce the risk of an insurance claim.

We hope this article has been helpful to you in looking for and hunting for landscape lighting.

Scott writes article about outdoor lights and about outdoor lighting

When it comes to I accentuating landscape features, nothing beats ornamental outdoor pathway lights in that they can be used to add a sense of mystery or romance by creating intriguing shadows interspersed with light.

Of course, low voltage outdoor path lights can also be used just as successfully in order to provide light in larger outdoor areas. For this reason, there is simply no excuse to limit yourself to boring lights when in fact you can get something which is capable of complimenting the look of your property.

By using path lights with a downward peak, one can use them to illuminate not only a walkway, but also steps and curbing. Furthermore, providing one has a little imagination, they can be used to create the most intriguing symmetrical patters in the garden, while at the same time providing safer navigation during the hours of darkness.

Outdoor garden lighting can be especially beneficial to large homes where garden parties are frequently held. Let’s face it; most guests appreciate being able to stroll around and explore rather than having to remain seated in one area of the garden only. In that case, outdoor pathway lights serve more purpose than simply enhancing the beauty of a garden.

Outdoor path lights with ornate designs should not only match the style of your house and complement the beauty of your garden but more importantly serve as a security and safety measure for night walking. That is why outdoor path lights are made of the highest quality and are able to stand humidity, storms and rain.

Indeed, along with the ornamental value, there is practicality and safety in putting in pathway lights.

Contemporary low voltage garden lighting requires just three parts: a 12v transformer to provide a safe low voltage power supply; a cable to distribute the power supply to where it’s needed; and the garden light fittings.

First though it is vital to select which type of lighting (traditional incandescent bulbs or LEDs) and to gauge the rating of the transformer necessary to run the lights (which depends on how bright they are and how many are required).

We will cover the differences between the two types of system (and how to combine them) later, but both otherwise follow exactly the same basic principles.

Calculating the size of transformer required is simply a matter of counting up the wattages for all the actual lights (so, 3 x 10 watt deck lights plus 2 x 20 watt standard lanterns comes to 70 watts for example) and tells you what rating of transformer you need to purchase.

The transformer input is connected to a mains outlet and must therefore be placed inside. The transformer output is then connected to the cable which then leads outdoors.

The cable itself applies a load to the system, in addition to the load created by the light fittings, which you should allow for when calculating the correct transformer size. This is typically stated on the packaging and increases in line with the cable length, which imposes an effective limit on the length of cable.

It’s simple to determine whether a cable is too long since the lights are a) not as bright as they should be and b) discernibly dimmer the further away from the transformer they are. An effective remedy involves looping the cable (or running additional cable) back to nearer the transformer. It is imperative though that you do not cross-connect the two strands of wire that make up the cable – there is typically some type of marking on one of the strands so you can easily observe polarity.

When your cable has been connected and laid out, attach each low voltage garden light fitting in turn by cutting the cable near to where the fitting is and connecting it back with the light’s own cable also attached.

As noted above, both LED and conventional incandescent garden lighting are now widely available, and it can be confusing to know which to get and how to combine the two different types.

LED lights use considerably less power and do not generate any heat. They also produce much crisper, sharper light compared to incandescent lamps, which can be used to good effect or can look rather harsh depending on the effects you’re after.

With few exceptions, you should not attach LED lights to a regular low voltage garden system, or the other way around. What will happen is that either the lifespan of your LED lights will be cut to just a week or so, or the constant voltage transformer (LED driver) will suffer a similar fate.

There are of course some exceptions; some LED light fittings are designed to be used with a normal low voltage system and will state as much on the packet. But in most cases, in order to combine LED and incandescent 12v garden lights requires the use of 2 distinct cables, with one attached to a normal transformer and the other to a 12v LED driver, and with each type of light fixture connected to its relevant cable.

There are many benefits in running both types of garden lights; LED lighting has particular properties that enhance the range of possible lighting effects, and when used in tandem both types of lighting can be made to either contrast with or complement each other and so create effects that would simply not be achievable with just one or the other.

Seven Steps to a Better Garden This Year

Would you like to have a better garden than you had last year, with less effort on your part? The answer, of course, is an emphatic “yes,” so here are a few suggestions.

Basically the formula is simple, namely, to do now everything you possibly can to save yourself later on – steps, time, worry and lost opportunities.

Even simple formulas dont work unless you do something about them. lets get this one started right by working out a step-by-step plan and then following it through.

Order early

In all probability you will want some new flowers, shrubs, and trees, and probably grass seed, with which to improve your garden at planting time. Send right now for a number of catalogs or visit their websites covering the items in which you are especially interested – not only plant materials but insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers and garden tools.

Consider power equipment, if possible, as it is a great time and labor saver. A few minutes invested will bring you a wealth of information about all of these things. By being an early bird you will find out about a new flower, shrub or garden implement before you see it in a neighbors garden or hear about it at your garden club.

With the new catalogs or “dream books” before you, plan your garden and make your order. Some things, such as seeds of flowers and vegetables to be started indoors or in a coldframe, you may need almost immediately, while some things can wait if necessary.

Gardeners living in the South will be planting when Northerners are merely thinking about it. Early orders are usually filled with the varieties you specify without substitutions due to depleted stocks. No need to worry about receiving plants too soon. They are shipped at the proper time for planting in your area. Shipment of items such as new tools and insecticides can be deferred until later but it is well to make your orders now, ready to start the garden as the time approaches when you will need them.

Look to Labels

Procure labels early in a sufficient supply to mark the things you plant. Plastic labels are good for annuals and vegetables. In all probability you will regret it later on if you do not have permanent labels for trees, shrubs, roses and perennials. Easily read, long-lasting labels add much to the pleasure of gardening and are a good place to record planting dates and other pertinent information.

When labels are on hand early they can be properly inscribed and placed with the seeds or plants in advance of the rush at planting time. We find it very helpful for instance, to separate vegetable and flower seeds into groups: those to be started indoors, outdoors early (hardy), outdoors late (tender) and so on, each variety with its prepared label and each group placed in a small box. As the different planting seasons arrive, everything is ready for immediate action.

Plans Come First

The preparation of planting plans is another great time saver that much too often is neglected. Many beginners – just the folks who most need them hesitate to attempt making planting plans, because they feel it is a complicated task requiring expert knowledge. Of course its true that an expert may do the job better and in shorter time. But that applies to any DIY job you can think of so dont hesitate to start. The worst possible planting plan is better than none at all.

The mechanics of making such a plan are not as complicated as you may think. At any office supply store pick up a pad of cross-ruled paper, which simplifies drawing to scale.

On the master plan you can put down, to scale, such things as the boundary lines of the property; the location and dimensions of the house and any other buildings; drives and walks; and such fixed objects as existing trees, large rocks or other “permanent fixtures.

Then you can sketch in location of the hedges, lawn areas, flower borders, vegetable patch, rose garden or any other special plantings you have or would like to have.

Also locate trees and shrubs which you plan to purchase, keeping in mind the ultimate size they are likely to attain. A good book on how to plan the home grounds will help with this task. Your plan will not only tell you what to order but, when planting time arrives, you will know exactly where each plant is to go.

This will save you many minutes, if not hours, in family discussions about “where shall we put it?”

If extensive planting is to be done, more detailed plans may be made for special areas such as the shrub border, perennial border, rose garden or rock garden. You can take my word for it: no other investment of time and there is no expense involved will do so much to give you a place that you will be proud of and happy in.

Little Frame a Big Help

For actually getting the garden off to a flying start when weather permits, I know of nothing that will prove more helpful than a small coldframe. It is always a marvel to me that so many eager-beaver beginners wait for years before taking advantage of the great help that even a very small frame can be in getting planting under way.

Consider also the pleasures to be had in operating a frame while most other garden operations must be held hostage by weather pending the fickle vagaries of spring. A frame as small as 4 by 6 feet, placed in some sheltered, sunny spot – such as on the south side of the garage, fence or hedge will enable you to start scores of seedling annuals and vegetables.

It is also possible to grow a few extra-early lettuces, onions and radishes to maturity. Later use it for starting perennials, rooting cuttings and protecting semi-hardy plants, such as the large-flowered chrysanthemums, over winter.

Of course you cant build a frame while the ground is frozen solid, but you can get all the parts ready so that when the time arrives it can be put in place in a matter of an hour or two.

In many sections of the country, where the soil seldom freezes more than 2 or 3 inches deep, a frame may readily be put in at any time. A frame may be bought ready-made at a moderate price or you can build it yourself.

Convenient dimensions are 6 or 8 feet long; 4 feet wide (to the outide of the boards); 18 inches high (above the soil inside the frame) at the back, and 12 inches at the front. The frame may be partially buried so that the front boards are only 4 to 6 inches above the ground. This helps keep out frost. Wood should be treated, which prevents decay. “Standard” sash from lumber yards are 6 by 3 feet, but these are heavy and unwieldy; sash 4 by 2 feet are available and better suited for home garden use. For a very light and inexpensive sash polyethylene plastic is satisfactory but not as durable as glass.

A Workbench Assists

Another mid-winter job which will pay big dividends later on is to provide yourself with a workbench that can be used for keeping all gardening tools sharp and in good repair. Any tool employed in working the soil such as hoes, shovels of various types, trowels even a pickax will get dull, just as do grass cutting tools of all types and pruning shears.

Even the weedeater needs to be cleaned up to “cut better.” Furnish a workbench with wrenches, emery wheel, coarse and fine sharpening stones and medium-weight machine oil. With all these items assembled together you will be encouraged to keep all gear in tip-top working condition.

Peg-Board Helps

“Where did I leave those shears?” How often have you asked yourself that question and lost precious minutes in trying to locate them? The peg-board is one of the greatest assists to the gardener that ever came along.

With one nailed up on your garage wall you can readily have a definite place for each of your small garden tools, and whats more, you will find yourself automatically putting them away where they belong. An outline of the tool, marked on the board, immediately shows anything missing.

When Should it Be Done

Just like your garden lights heres something else that should have a place on that peg board in a gilded frame – a date book. Most families at this time of year are flooded with advertising calendars some with dates ruled off in big squares for memoranda. Take one of these and mark down on it the approximate dates for various important garden operations including mowing, fertilizing, and addition of low voltage garden lights. For instance

March 1 start indoors, hardy annuals and flower seeds

March 15-make first planting in frames, sow sweet peas, prune roses;

April 1 plant hardy annual and first vegetable seeds in open, fertilize daffodils and tulips.

Of course these dates will vary in different sections of the country; and often they will not work out there may be a late blizzard when sweet peas should go in the ground. But they do serve as reminders and as a guide to show whats coming up; and they will prevent your overlooking, or being unduly late with, many important garden operations.

Perhaps you cannot accomplish, especially the first year, all of the things suggested here. But the nearer you can come to it the better your garden will be. The ideas are all practical and most involve little or no expense. You will soon find that a running start will get you further faster and with the least effort.

Fixing up your home, increasing its usefulness and value, is what DIY is all about. Let’s take a look at a few of the projects that you can do for the garage, in the home, and around the yard that will make your home look great.

Garage Improvements

This is a great area to fix up because usually is pretty drab with the ugly concrete floors and little in the way of lighting. One of the best uses for this space is for storage as well as organization for your tools and playthings. One of the first places he you will want to start is with a storage solution for your bikes, tools, and the yard equipment.

After looking at storage ideas and getting things organized the ugly concrete floor is one of the best targets for improvement. Usually you can find simple to apply floor coverings like epoxy paint or tile flooring to add style and additional protection to your garage.

Yard Ideas

Something that always improves the look and usefulness of your yard and deck areas is to add outdoor lighting around the home. This is something simple and easy that anyone can do especially with today’s solar lighting kits and will allow you to create a fun and safe environment for throwing a party in showing off the house.

For those of you that are golf fans, the additional of your own personal putting green to the backyard is possible, though you may want to look into hiring professional installers. Your own personal putting green can be a great way to practice year round as they are usually made out of synthetic turf which stays green no matter how cold it gets.

Interior Ideas

The interior of the home offers many opportunities for easy and stylish improvements. One great place to start are the bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures as this will allow you to update your home to current looks of brushed chrome or oil rubbed bronze without having to make big expensive changes.

These days there are many different styles of fixtures and knobs to choose from, which include brushed chrome and oil rubbed bronze as recent popular favorites. Personalizing these items throughout the home are great way to create that custom feel without spending too much money.

As you can see there are many projects that you can use to improve the look, value, and enjoyment you get out of your home. The big question is where to start first.