by AM Garden Team | Apr 26, 2024 | Hardscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting, Landscape lighting renovation Houston, Landscape Lighting Services, LED Lighting, Outdoor Living, Pathway Lighting
Is your landscape lighting outdated and falling apart, held together by makeshift repairs? Let Alexander Michael’s Outdoor Lighting provide a FREE CONSULTATION to renovate and upgrade your system. Most systems can be upgraded at an affordable price with ease.
If your landscape lighting is in this condition, it is not only unappealing but also dangerous.
Contact Us! We can help.
LED technology provides energy efficiency, durability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness with a customizable design.
In landscape design, outdoor lighting plays a crucial role in transforming outdoor spaces from average to exceptional. Whether it is a cozy backyard retreat, a flourishing garden, or an elegant pathway leading to your doorstep, the right lighting can enhance the atmosphere and functionality of any outdoor setting. With the advancement of technology, particularly the popularization of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting, upgrading your landscape lights can offer a range of benefits that go beyond just aesthetics.
Call or text Robert for more information at (832) 515-8240
by AM Garden Team | Apr 11, 2024 | Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Services, Moonlighting Effect, Outdoor Living
Landscape lighting design is more than just functional; it’s a way to create ambiance, mood, and enchantment. The moonlight technique is a popular method used by landscape architects and designers to create a captivating, warm glow that resembles a moonlit night. Instead of harsh, direct lighting, this approach uses gentle pools of light to highlight the landscape’s key features while preserving the nighttime’s mystery and tranquility.
However, not all trees are suitable for moonlighting. The tree must have ample height and branches and foliage in abundance. These Specialty fixtures are installed 30’–50’ into the tree canopy with the light spread downward, casting light through the tree structure, and creating an array of shadows blended with light. The result of this technique is like a bright full moon shining through your trees, even when there is not a full moon!
In conclusion, landscape lighting is a powerful tool for sculpting space, eliciting emotion, and enhancing the look of your property and gardens.
Alexander Michael’s Garden and Landscape offers a free consultation service. Schedule your consultation today!
by AM Garden Team | Oct 18, 2021 | Landscape Lighting Services, Moonlighting Effect, Pathway Lighting, Shadowing Effect
Alexander Michael’s Garden, Landscape, And Outdoor Lighting take pride in our knowledge and experience with the different techniques for outdoor lighting. We use our expertise to employ each of these techniques to achieve the most effective results. Our design process is much more than placing a bunch of accent fixtures around your home and calling it a “design”. We consider our customer’s lighting objective, the size, and placement of landscaping, the color scheme of the home, the size of the trees, and the overall size of the property.
The two most common design flaws that I have observed are:
- Incorrect placement of fixtures; In particular, the incorrect aim of the fixture. Most fixtures have lamps (bulbs) that come in a variety of spread widths, from 15 degrees to 120 degrees! The correct spread should be considered when designing the layout and overall lighting objective.
- Every square inch of your landscape or home does not need to be illuminated. An effective design will have layers of lighting, highlighting focal points of the property. So, of the 8 primary lighting techniques, the following are my favorite: (We will cover other techniques in future articles)
Shadowing Effect
With the proper fixture placement and the correct light spread, the shadowing effect is a dramatic look. Not only will the subject plant or bush be illuminated, but the shadowing of the plant will cast a shadow onto the backdrop behind the plant. Palm trees are a great tree to utilize this effect. The placement of fixtures and correct lamp spread is critical with this technique. I’ve included pictures of this technique at the end of this article.
Moon Lighting
My absolute favorite! This technique is not for the installer who is afraid of heights, as it requires climbing into the canopy of a large tree. We use a wide beam specialty fixture that simulates moonlight with the shadow of the canopy branches casting onto the ground below. We always use climbing safety gear. This type of installation brings me back to my childhood tree-climbing days! The approach is straightforward. It also requires a couple of conditions:
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- The tree should be large, with a wide canopy.
- There MUST be a significant branch pattern from the middle of the canopy to the ground. It’s important that the fixture is installed high enough in the tree to allow the light to filter down through limbs and branches to create this shadowing.
Path Lighting
Path Lighting is an effective way to tie the lighting design together I recommend using a staggard pattern alternating sides of the pathway. Remember though, you DO NOT want single-stemmed pathway lights installed in grassy areas, as whoever mows your grass is likely to destroy the fixture. There are several fixture choices that will alleviate this potentially costly issue, including larger bollards and low-profile fixtures.
Click Here to Contact Alexander Michael’s Garden, Landscape, and Outdoor Lighting to schedule your free design consultation today.
