Short answer
Landscape lighting is outdoor lighting designed for a yard or grounds: path lights, uplights on trees and walls, step and deck lights, and security lighting. Most residential systems are low-voltage (12 volt) on a transformer with a photocell and timer, and larger or distant fixtures may be line-voltage. Select Electric designs and installs landscape lighting for homes and businesses in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties.
Good landscape lighting does three things: it makes walks and steps safe, it makes the house easier to find and harder to approach unseen, and it shows off what you've put into the yard. The design is as important as the fixtures.
What Landscape Lighting Includes
- Path and walkway lights along sidewalks and driveways.
- Uplighting on trees, walls, columns and the front of the house.
- Step, deck and patio lights built into stairs, rails and hardscape.
- Downlighting from trees or eaves for a softer, moonlit effect.
- Security and flood lighting, often with motion sensors.
- Commercial grounds: entry signs, walkways and building facades.
Low Voltage vs. Line Voltage
Low Voltage
A transformer plugged into or wired to a GFCI-protected outdoor circuit steps power down to about 12 volts. Cable runs out to the fixtures and can be buried at shallow depth. LED fixtures draw little power, so one transformer can often run a whole yard. The key to a good system is sizing the transformer and cable runs so fixtures at the far end aren't dim from voltage drop.
Line Voltage
Standard 120 volt circuits for floodlights, pole lights, lighting at a far-off garage or sign, or anything that needs more power. These circuits follow the same code rules as other outdoor wiring, including burial depth, conduit where required and GFCI protection.
Design Basics That Make a Difference
- Less is usually more. A few well-placed lights look better than a runway of path lights along every edge.
- Hide the source. You should see the lit tree or wall, not the glare of the fixture itself.
- Use a consistent color. Warm white (around 2700K to 3000K) suits most homes and gardens. Mixing color temperatures looks patchy.
- Light the way in. Steps, grade changes and the front door come first, then accents.
- Be a good neighbor. Aim fixtures and use shields so light stays on your property and out of windows.
How the Job Goes
- Walk the property. Ideally with you, talking about what you want lit and why.
- Design. Fixture types and locations, transformer or circuit, and controls.
- Power. A dedicated outdoor circuit or GFCI receptacle if one is needed. Buried utilities are marked before we dig (MISS DIG 811 in Michigan).
- Install. Fixtures set, cable buried, connections sealed.
- Aim and adjust after dark. Lighting is judged at night, so final aiming happens at night.
What It Costs
This work is priced per job, because the building, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a written quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
Local Detail: Designing for Michigan Seasons
In Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties, landscape lighting has to deal with frost heave, snow load and plows as much as summer rain. We keep fixtures out of plow and snow-throw paths, use direct-burial rated cable and sealed connectors, and plan for plants that will look very different in January than in July. Lighting also matters more here in winter, when it's dark before most people get home from work.
If an existing outdoor outlet or GFCI won't reset, see outlet not working. To plan landscape lighting, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
What is the difference between low-voltage and line-voltage landscape lighting?
Low-voltage lighting runs on a transformer that steps 120 volts down to about 12 volts. It is the common choice for path, garden and accent lights, since the cable can be buried shallow and fixtures are easy to move. Line-voltage (120 volt) lighting is used for larger floodlights, pole lights and lighting far from the house, and it has stricter wiring and burial requirements.
Does landscape lighting survive Michigan winters?
Well-built fixtures, direct-burial rated cable and connections sealed against moisture hold up to freeze-thaw cycles. Placement matters too: fixtures set where plows, snow blowers or heavy drifts will hit them tend to get damaged. We plan around where snow goes.
How are landscape lights turned on and off?
Usually with a photocell that turns them on at dusk, often combined with a timer that turns them off at a set hour. Some transformers include both, and smart controls are also available.
Do I need an outdoor outlet for landscape lighting?
A low-voltage transformer needs a GFCI-protected outdoor receptacle with a weatherproof in-use cover, and many homes don't have one in the right place. We can add a dedicated outdoor circuit or receptacle as part of the job.
Can you fix landscape lights someone else installed?
Often, yes. Common problems are failed transformers, cut or corroded cable, and connections that have let water in. Call (989) 835-3587 and describe what's out.