Garden lighting has entered the eco-friendly revolution with a bang. No longer does a homeowner have to spend thousands of dollars for an elaborate system of wires, trenches or pipes, control panels, extra fuse boxes and electricians unless they want to.
Incandescent bulbs are wonderful for providing light, but let one drop of water from rain or a sprinkler hit it and it’s done. Then the job of cleaning up bits of broken glass begins. Hopefully, the socket doesn’t short out and fry the system.
That’s where the beauty of a Light Emitting Diode or LED comes in. This device has actually been around since its creation in 1907. Electrical current is passed through a small semiconductor, which makes it glow.
The most amazing thing about LEDs is that they use far less electricity than incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. They also contain no mercury or hazardous gasses, either. LEDs typically have a far greater useful life than compared to other bulb types.
What Is an LED?
Since no appreciable heat is created by the LED, this wonderful little device can be used in a host of gardening lighting options. There is another benefit to these wonderful lights- they aren’t just restricted to producing one color.
By using UV resistant plastic, LED’s have opened the garden lighting industry to new avenues. Try hanging little plastic hummingbirds or squirrels in the trees that change colors at night. Shapes of stars, globes, simulated “glowing grass” blades and more are easily created with LED lights.
For patios, LED rope lights are gaining in popularity, as are LED solar Christmas lights. This will save a bundle on Holiday lighting displays and the resulting electric bills.
Solar
Since they use so little electricity, they are perfect for solar applications. Only requiring a small amount, small solar panels can be used. AAA sized batteries can fit inside most devices, eliminating the need for stands, boxes wires.
Where to Purchase
Most big box stores with a gardening center have some form of LED garden lighting, whether solar or grid power. Online gardening sites and a host of shopping sites carry a plethora of styles, shapes, sizes of everything from individual lights to entire systems.
Prices
Depending on the manufacturer and retailer, prices vary from as little as $20 to a few hundred, depending on the size, style, shape and number of lights purchased.
Since there are so many options, why not have a modern look with different styles of lights ranging from “color-changing-hummingbirds” to plain white models that light up a walk.
Who says garden lighting has to be all one color or style, anyway?
