Pro Landscaper Magazine May 2022 The Do’s and Dont’s of Downlighting
Pro Landscaper Magazine May 2022 The Do’s and Dont’s of Downlighting
LIGHTING EXPERT NEIL PARSLOW EXPLAINS HOW BEST TO INCORPORATE DOWNLIGHTING INTO A GARDEN
Downlighting is seldom considered when producing a landscape lighting design, which is usually down to the installation complexity; but when the opportunity arises, it is highly recommended to use this technique. Combining both uplighting and downlighting of certain elements within a garden has the ability to transform your designs, if done correctly.
One of the first things you should look out for when viewing a new project is whether there are any mature trees or structures (including the house) from which you can incorporate downlighting. Light fittings mounted high up in trees or structures will produce the most natural form of lighting, which also requires far less maintenance and covers a much larger area of the ground below – so, less is more in this instance.
COMBINING BOTH UPLIGHTING AND DOWNLIGHTING OF CERTAIN ELEMENTS WITHIN A GARDEN HAS THE ABILITY TO TRANSFORM YOUR DESIGNS, IF DONE CORRECTLY
Downlighting from within tree canopies can produce stunning moonlighting effects through the foliage and interesting shadows are then produced on the ground below. If lighting is to be used in tree canopies, safety will always be of concern. There are several methods of accessing large trees, with access to the site being one of the main factors to consider. Some access methods can be with the use of ladders, a Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP), or with the help of an arborist or tree climber using ropes and a harness.
Each project will have its own difficulties and so one of the above methods will work better than others. For dense canopies, employing a tree climber may be the best solution as they will be able to access the tree far easier than by trying to use a MEWP to penetrate up through the canopy. A tree climber will also find it easier to fix extra low volt cabling to the branches and trunk system. One thing to bear in mind with lighting in large tree canopies is that the majority of the design work will actually be carried out after dark to ensure the light fittings are mounted in the desired location, and with the aiming or focusing of the products also being carried out after dark. So, factor in a tree climber for evening works. It can also be more effective to illuminate larger deciduous trees during the winter months, as their branch structure is more visible and eliminating hot spots on the branches is easier to accomplish.
Much smaller multi-stem trees can also look very impressive with downlighting fixed using glare-controlled ring mount fittings. Garden building or structures can be great as mounting locations for downlighting when suitable trees are not present, but the hiding of cabling will sometimes be a little trickier than in trees.
Many larger detached homes (especially bespoke new builds) often have planting beds near to the house exterior walls, so using the overhanging fascia and soffits for mounting down lights can have the benefit for illuminating the beds below. In an ideal world it would be fantastic if the house architects and exterior lighting designers could work together, to factor in wiring for the landscaped areas surrounding the house, as this is usually
a missed opportunity, and sometimes makes it very difficult to incorporate wiring for the landscape downlighting after the house build is complete.