THE right lighting turns a garden into a shining space long after sunset. Whether you’re hosting friends or enjoying quiet moments outside, here’s how to make the most of your evenings outdoors.
Choose the best lighting type
Outdoor lighting falls into three main categories: mains powered, low-voltage, and solar. Mains wired systems are ideal for long-term installations for reliable brightness, such as near garages, driveways, or entrances. These must be installed by a qualified electrician, but they provide the most dependable illumination. Particularly in winter.
For DIY-friendly options, low-voltage kits are available in most garden centres. They’re easier to set up and offer good brightness for paths and borders. Just ensure to use weatherproof fittings and connectors designed specifically for outdoor use.
Security and safety
Strategically placed lights can deter unwanted visitors and offer peace of mind. Motion sensor floodlights are especially useful for side gates or darker corners of your space. Choose designs with LED technology to reduce energy use.
Place security lighting thoughtfully around doors and sheds rather than near bird feeders or wildlife zones. Sudden bright lights can disturb nocturnal animals and make your garden less wildlife-friendly. Aim to strike a balance between visibility and serenity.
Creating a relaxing evening atmosphere
For social evenings, soft lighting sets the tone. Consider using ground-level uplighters to illuminate feature plants or trees, or stake lights for guidance along pathways.
Coloured filters or bulbs can add drama or warmth. Use red or amber tones for a cosy glow that’s gentler on wildlife. Cool white lights tend to be harsher and are more likely to interfere with bats, moths, and frogs that thrive in twilight.
When designing for ambience, try to layer your lighting. Mix fixed installations with portable lanterns or festoon strings for a dynamic and decorative look.
Making the most of solar power
Solar lights have come a long way. Today’s models are more efficient, reliable, and stylish. They’re ideal for fence posts, sheds, and far corners where cables can’t reach.
Look for models with built-in PIR sensors for short bursts of light when movement is detected. Just remember, their effectiveness drops in the winter months when daylight hours are shorter, so position them where they’ll get maximum sun exposure during the day.
Extend your evenings
Good lighting lets you enjoy your garden on your terms. Whether you’re harvesting vegetables, tidying the beds, or simply sitting out under the stars, a well-lit garden is more inviting and safer to navigate. With the right mix of practicality and creativity, your garden can shine in every season.
Agapanthus brings bold beauty to the garden just as other summer flowers begin to fade. These striking perennials form clumps of strappy leaves and send up tall stems topped with globe-like blooms, making a strong architectural statement in late summer borders.
In August, varieties such as Agapanthus ‘Midnight Star’ and ‘Queen Mum’ are at their peak, displaying vivid blues and purples that draw in pollinators. Deadheading isn’t essential, but removing spent flowers can keep things looking tidy. Seedheads can also be left for structure into early autumn.
These sun lovers thrive in well-drained soil and do especially well in raised beds or containers. Once established, they handle dry spells with ease, making them a reliable low-maintenance choice. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
To keep plants vigorous year after year, divide congested clumps in spring or early autumn. This gives you more plants to enjoy and helps prevent flowering from fading over time. Learn more about agapanthus at my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.
Fun fact: Though commonly known as African lilies, Agapanthus aren’t true lilies. They originate from southern Africa and are perfectly suited to hot, dry summer conditions here in the UK.
1. Reapply mulch around shrubs and perennials to conserve moisture during dry spells and suppress late summer weeds. Use organic mulch like bark or compost and leave a gap around stems to prevent rot.
2. Clean moss and algae off paths and patios before autumn dampness sets in. Use a stiff broom and soapy water, or a path-safe cleaner. Clearing the surface now also reduces slip hazards when rainfall increases.
3. Pinch out the tips of squash plants once three or four fruits have formed. This directs energy into ripening existing fruits instead of producing more leaves and flowers, which is vital as daylight hours begin to shorten.
4. Leave out shallow dishes of water to support wildlife during hot, dry weather. Birds, bees, and hedgehogs all need regular access to fresh water in August. Add stones so insects can land safely without risk of drowning.
5. Inspect tree ties and stakes as growth surges over summer. Loosen ties that are digging in, and check that stakes are still secure and upright after strong winds or storms. Replace anything damaged to protect young trees into autumn.
Fossils show that hydrangeas have existed for around 45 million years, dating back to the early Tertiary period. This was a time of major changes in plant and animal evolution, following the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Celery has been part of the human diet for more than 3,000 years. In ancient civilisations like Egypt and Greece, it was prized for its medicinal properties and used to treat ailments such as anxiety, indigestion, and even insomnia. Learn all about growing your own celery at my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.
Young sunflower heads display heliotropism, a behaviour where the flower follows the sun across the sky from morning to evening. At night, they reset by turning back east to face the rising sun the next day.
Apples float in water because about 25% of their volume is air. This trapped air makes them buoyant, which is why they’re perfect for bobbing games and float easily in cooking pots.
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