How to use solar lighting in your garden..
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to dress your garden with solar lighting that not only makes the best of your summer evenings but will cast a golden glow across your garden all winter, too.
Solar lighting for gardens has many benefits, from being environmentally friendly (powered by the sun, of course) to providing the light you need without the expense of laying outdoor wiring and fitting outdoor sockets.
Not all solar lights are created equal
Solar lights are powered by internal rechargeable batteries, charged through the day by a solar panel. The brighter the day, the more power is stored by the battery and the longer and brighter the light will be. They are light-responsive, so switch on at sunset and switch off at sunrise.
The quality of the solar panel and battery will have an impact on the length of time the light will shine through the night. Before making your purchase, it’s wise to read reviews to see how they have worked for other users.
Types of solar lights for your garden
There are multiple options to choose from, whether you want something purely decorative or something purposeful, to light an outdoor path, for example.
Fairy lights: strings of lights with small, low-output LEDs. Fairy lights are perfect for stringinging along a fence, or winding around small shrubs and potted bay trees, for example, as they glow gently, creating a pretty ambience.
String lights: Similar to fairy lights, string lights are, as the name suggests, a row of bulbs on a long wire, but full-sized bulbs, or close, rather than tiny ones. If you’re seeking a festival feel, these are the ones for you. As these are best for creating a party atmosphere, you should seek out options with an off-switch, so they don’t disturb wildlife, or your neighbours, while you sleep.
Spotlights: Use spotlights to light a single spot, t=or to uplight trees and shrubs. They’re also ideal for placing by dark areas where a bit of light on a winter’s night is helpful, such as by the bins or at the back door, where you don’t want the full brightness of a security light popping on every time the cat walks past. To avoid alarming wildlife, or driving them from their normal route around your garden, switch off spotlights at bedtime, or when the party’s over.
Stake lights: Individual stakes with a light at the top (and the solar panel) that are great for spacing along a pathway, or placing into the edges of borders to give shape to your garden once the sun falls.
Solar lanterns: Freestanding lamps perfect for tabletop use, or hanging from hooks placed just where you want them.
How to site your solar light for the best output
When you first buy your solar lights you need to allow them a couple of days of charging time before you put them into use overnight. Unpack your lights and place them in a sunny position, to allow the battery to charge. Do not use them this first night; switch them off to allow the battery to store the power. Do this for three to five days, to allow the battery to charge to full capacity, then switch them on for overnight use.
To fully charge the battery, most solar lights need exposure to the sun (even cloudy days count) for six to eight hours per day. This isn’t too tricky in summer, but in winter, when the sun is lower and around for less time, you need to consider the placement and angle of the lights’ solar panels to ensure they capture the most natural light. Look for where trees, fences or walls could shade the solar panels during the day, so limiting their ability to recharge. This is especially important in winter. If you do plan on using solar lights in your garden during the winter, it will be worth doing an assessment of how and where the light falls after the clocks go back, so you can turn the panels towards the optimum direction and tilt to catch the lower angle of the sun.
Keep the solar lighting panels clean
Any debris or clouding of the panels, caused by those occasional dirty rainfalls we get, will impact the effectiveness of the panel for charging the battery, so a regular wipe clean with a soft cloth is a good idea.
Battery maintenance
Quality solar lights will have a battery you can change. On average, it will last two years, but if you plan to leave your lights out all winter, then a yearly change might be best.
Follow our tips to get the most out of your solar lights, and have fun creating a wonderful ambience in your garden.
Eddie – Friday 30th August 2024. (Image used from JP & Brimelow Estate Agents marketing team).
