Advice Genie

If you want to add landscape lighting to your property, solar lighting for gardens is a great option.  It’s easy to install, come in a variety of sizes, styles and fixtures, and requires little to no upkeep.  However, even with all of its benefits there are also a few limitations that you need to be aware of if you want to make the most out of your lights.  Here are the things that you need to watch out for when you’re installing your solar lights.

The biggest limitation of solar powered lights is that they need to be placed in direct sunlight.  While the lights may charge somewhat if you put them in the shade, they most likely won’t have their batteries completely charged by the end of the day.  This means that the lights won’t burn as brightly at night and also won’t burn for as long.  Over time, this can even lead to premature aging of the battery in the light.  If you’re thinking about installing lights under trees or in other shady areas, low voltage lighting would most likely be a better option.

The second major limitation of solar lights is that while they do come in a variety of styles and shapes, they don’t come in all the styles and shapes that low voltage lights do.  If you only want to install a few lights this might be perfectly fine, but if you want to install a great lighting system, you might be limiting your options.  You most likely won’t be able to install features such as recessed lighting or small “twinkle lights” that can add a lot to your lighting scheme.  Make sure that you don’t rule out other options that you might not think of if you don’t have solar lights installed.

Solar lighting is a great option for many homeowners, but it also comes with its limitations.  Make sure that you know the limitations and how it affects your lights.