Whether clipped and tended or wild and natural, one of the simplest pleasures experienced by garden lovers everywhere is to be able to relax and gaze out over our green oasis night and day. When the sun goes down, a set of solar lights in the garden can light it up like an eco-friendly fairy land.
Solar Garden Globe – photo credit: Payson web 2.0 via photopin cc
Lighting up your environment
Fortunately, solar lights don’t use electricity as they soak up the sunlight directly during the day and release the energy after sunset as a gentle and effective light source. So whether you’re throwing an after dark barbecue, or searching for your cat at dinner time, solar-powered lights are an eco-friendly and practical option for your garden.
Lightening the load on your wallet
As well as doing little to disturb the environment, they don’t disturb our finances too much either. The initial outlay is relatively low, so you you’ll also no longer have to fork out for increased energy usage costs that high-voltage electric-powered lights need, as solar lights use no electricity from your mains supply.
Making life a little easier
One of the great advantages of solar lights is that in most cases, you don’t have to worry about turning them on or off: they’ll turn on automatically at dusk and turn themselves off at dawn. No waste and no more scurrying out into the dark in your dressing gown to flip a switch!
Garden Solar Lights – photo credit: marada via photopin cc
A few suggestions for your garden
The solar lights market is expanding as their popularity grows. There’s a huge range of styles, sizes and types to choose from, meaning that there’s bound to be a design to suit your beautiful garden. Not only that, there are no unsightly cables and plugs to worry about.
Some Bright Ideas
- You can drape your trees and bushes with solar fairy lights for a dream-like garden.
- Line solar post lights along the edges of your paths for a well-lit trail through the grass.
- If security is what you’re looking for, there are now security-focussed solar lights on the market. They can be tilted to suit your situation and are fitted with waterproofing technology along with remote digital motion sensors just like electric-powered security lights.
- If you’re looking for simple garden lighting, a solar spotlight will light up your garden for ideal visibility.
- Consider floor lights if you’re installing decking or a new patio: you can find sleek, square stainless steel designs on the market which will really complement your new deck.
- If you’re having a party, or just want decorative lights, you can get brightly coloured designs to really make your garden stand out. There are even novelty solar animals available.
Solar lights are stylish and eco-friendly, and they can really bring your garden to life. They’re a real sign of moving with the times, since so many people want their home to be greener these days.
Are you a fan of garden lights? Have you made the switch to solar yet?
Dee Sewell – a horticulturalist and certified trainer who started Greenside Up in 2009 and teaches people how to grow vegetables. Dee specialises in working with community gardens but also offers workshops, allotment visits, consultations, horticultural therapy, afterschools clubs as well as local talks – she tailors her services to meet clients needs. In 2012 Dee launched a Seed Gift Collection containing varieties of vegetable and insect friendly flowers with the aim of getting more people growing. Dee’s blog was a finalist in the 2012 Ireland Blog Awards in the Eco/Green and Lifestyle Categories.
Source: GreensideUp – Brighten Up Your Life (and Garden) with Solar Lights – Dee Sewell
