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The Garden Service
Phase Blue is able to offer a full
range of garden lighting and electrical services from
the initial landscape design advice through to a full
installation service.
Electric lighting can be split into two types:
MAINS
Mains lighting is generally used for flood lighting
or lighting a very big area and is best carried out
by a qualified electrician.
LOW VOLTAGE
Is relatively easy to install and cheap to run, costs
vary according to quantity of lights.
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What is available?
There are many types of lights for your garden, spot
lights are good for lighting a specific feature for
example a statue, tree or for illuminating plants
and shrubs. Lights can also be painted to contrast
or blend into surrounding areas during daylight hours.
Spherical lights are good for all
round illumination. There are even lights that are
inset into rock and stone formations giving a naturally
environmental appearance to your garden lighting.
Then there are under water lights for in or around
ponds and water features. If you wish to illuminate
a fountain or pond please ensure that the lights you
purchase are safe and suitable for this project.
Positioning
Although most lights come on a "spike" which
means you put them in soil, why not if you have it
put them in a high tree and point them down. If you
want to light a path then put them near it but not
too bright a light as you do not want to "blind"
any one from any obstacles. You could also mount your
lamps on the wall of your home to give a nice warm
glow effect.
Colouring
Coloured lighting can give a dramatic effect, but
green and blue are best suited to a garden, red and
orange are good for lighting a water feature.
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Lighting Effects
Uplighting:
Uplighting means placing the light fitting on the
ground in front of the plant, then shining the light
up onto it - or into it. This works well for plants
attractive enough - and big enough - for this kind
of star treatment.
Spot
Lighting: This
is when you direct light fittings at plant or object
you want to light. A dynamic effect that creates a
focus in your garden.
Down
Lighting:
This, as the name suggests, is when you shine light
down onto a plant or tree.
Path
Lighting:
Incorporates the use of shielding on low level fittings
casting symmetrical light patterns onto the ground
to light paths borders and steps.
Please click on the above Lighting effects for a detailed
image.
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Bulb wattages and beam widths
Low voltage bulbs come
in 10, 15, 20, 35, 50 and 75 Watts. The higher the wattage,
the brighter the light. Low wattages are suitable for
lighting areas like decking and steps, but for uplighting
lush foliage you need higher wattages. Bulbs also come
in three beam widths. The narrowest is 12 degrees, which
we used to uplight the tree fern trunk. For all the
other fittings we used 38 degree beams. The widest beam
-60 degrees - would be suitable for cross lighting a
lawn.
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