SmartHomeOwners

Springtime brings thoughts of trimming bushes, mowing the lawn, planting flowers and upgrading yard decor fixtures such as birdhouses, wind chimes, statues, etc.  But when daylight disappears each evening, your yard will quickly become a dark, mysterious space with no evidence of your hard work.  This problem can easily be solved by adding outdoor lighting to your landscape. But don't install just any type of lighting.  As you gear up for spring, consider adding decorative solar lights to your yard.

Solar lighting offers a number of advantages over electrical lighting.  Of course, the greatest benefit is solar lighting requires no wiring whatsoever.  With electrical lighting, you'll likely have to hire an electrician to properly wire each light so family members, pets and guests will not be exposed to electrical hazards.  Wiring your landscape lights can be expensive and time-consuming...not to mention the required maintenance due to rain and wind storms, damage by underground rodents, etc.  Even with simplistic electrical lighting that you can simply plug into an outlet, you'll be limited as to where you can place the lights.

Naturally Charged Lighting

Solar lighting is completely wire-free because solar lights rely on the sun's energy to provide illumination for your yard.  Solar lights are designed to gather energy from the sun and use it to charge a special type of battery.  The battery charges by day, and then uses that stored energy to light up your yard at night.  The only maintenance required is the occasional change-out of batteries or the replacement of a solar light if it gets broken or goes out completely.  And because no electricity is involved, you won't have to worry about solar lights running up your home's energy costs.

Where to Install

You can place solar lights anywhere in your yard without worry of where the wires can be installed.  Freely add solar lights along walkways, garden paths, flower beds and shrubs, or near your steps.  Solar lights can be used to illuminate the entrance to a driveway or to highlight certain focal points in your yard such as garden statues.  They're also perfect to light a deck, patio or porch.

Wherever you install the solar lights, be sure they can receive plenty of exposure to the sun's rays during the day.  Solar lights that are installed close to the ground are generally on stakes that can be pushed into the ground easily.  Keep in mind that lighting around your home at night can also act as a preventive security measure.  Burglars tend to avoid homes that are well lit because they fear someone will see them.  Place your lights strategically so there are no hidden, dark areas.

The types of solar lighting available include pathway lights, task lights (for more widespread lighting), and accent lights (for artistic decor).  They come in many colors, materials and styles to blend with any yard decor, so you can add them to your shopping list when getting your yard ready for warm weather.

The only drawback to using solar lights is they tend to be dimmer than electrical lighting.  Solar lights don't put out a blaring light, but many homeowners find the soft light to be more inviting and decorative.  It's really a matter of preference, but solar lights greatly outweigh electrical lighting in benefits.  And if you need additional lighting for certain areas such as your patio for entertaining guests, you can certainly install an electrical light or two where need.  Solar lights can be used in conjunction with electrical lights to create the look and feel you want for your yard.

If you're seeking a cost-effective way to enhance your landscape, solar lights provide a terrific, affordable option!