Landscape Lighting Guides, Tips & How-Tos

Solid brass landscape lighting fixtures

Brass vs. Aluminum Landscape Lighting Fixtures:...

Chris Kelly

Compare brass vs. aluminum landscape lighting fixtures, including finish behavior, patina, scratches, maintenance, coastal exposure, and when each material makes sense.

Brass vs. Aluminum Landscape Lighting Fixtures:...

Chris Kelly

Compare brass vs. aluminum landscape lighting fixtures, including finish behavior, patina, scratches, maintenance, coastal exposure, and when each material makes sense.

Landscape lighting using light and shadow to create depth

Landscape Lighting With Light and Shadow: How t...

Chris Kelly

Use contrast, shadow, beam control, fixture spacing, and layered lighting to create depth in a landscape without making every surface equally bright.

Landscape Lighting With Light and Shadow: How t...

Chris Kelly

Use contrast, shadow, beam control, fixture spacing, and layered lighting to create depth in a landscape without making every surface equally bright.

Flagpole illuminated with landscape lighting

How to Light a Flagpole: Fixture Placement, Bea...

Chris Kelly

Plan low-voltage flagpole lighting by considering flag movement, pole height, fixture position, 40° vs 60° MR16 beam angle, glare, controls, and nighttime testing instead of relying on one fixed fixture-count...

How to Light a Flagpole: Fixture Placement, Bea...

Chris Kelly

Plan low-voltage flagpole lighting by considering flag movement, pole height, fixture position, 40° vs 60° MR16 beam angle, glare, controls, and nighttime testing instead of relying on one fixed fixture-count...

Total Light TL-DL150-CB brass deck light

How to Install a Total Light TL-DL150-CB Brass ...

Chris Kelly

Plan and install the Total Light TL-DL150-CB 12V brass deck light with practical guidance for placement, G4 lamp selection, mounting, low-voltage wiring, outdoor connections, testing, and maintenance.

How to Install a Total Light TL-DL150-CB Brass ...

Chris Kelly

Plan and install the Total Light TL-DL150-CB 12V brass deck light with practical guidance for placement, G4 lamp selection, mounting, low-voltage wiring, outdoor connections, testing, and maintenance.

Low-voltage landscape lighting installation in a lawn

How to Install Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting W...

Chris Kelly

Plan and install low-voltage landscape lighting with less lawn damage by marking utilities, choosing efficient wire routes, protecting sod, testing before backfilling, and documenting the finished system.

How to Install Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting W...

Chris Kelly

Plan and install low-voltage landscape lighting with less lawn damage by marking utilities, choosing efficient wire routes, protecting sod, testing before backfilling, and documenting the finished system.

Low-voltage versus line-voltage outdoor lighting

Low Voltage vs Line Voltage Outdoor Lighting: W...

Chris Kelly

Compare low-voltage and line-voltage outdoor lighting, including transformer use, shock risk, wire runs, voltage drop, installation considerations, fixture applications, and when each system type may make sense.

Low Voltage vs Line Voltage Outdoor Lighting: W...

Chris Kelly

Compare low-voltage and line-voltage outdoor lighting, including transformer use, shock risk, wire runs, voltage drop, installation considerations, fixture applications, and when each system type may make sense.

how to use risers in landscape lighting

Landscape Lighting Risers: 6" vs 12" vs 18" vs ...

Chris Kelly

Compare Total Light 6-inch, 12-inch, 18-inch, and 24-inch Classic Brass landscape-lighting risers and learn how plant growth, fixture compatibility, stability, wire routing, and sightlines affect the right height.

Landscape Lighting Risers: 6" vs 12" vs 18" vs ...

Chris Kelly

Compare Total Light 6-inch, 12-inch, 18-inch, and 24-inch Classic Brass landscape-lighting risers and learn how plant growth, fixture compatibility, stability, wire routing, and sightlines affect the right height.

Properly positioning spot lights for landscape lighting

How to Position Landscape Spotlights for Trees ...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to position landscape uplights and spotlights for trees, walls, columns, and architectural features using target size, fixture distance, beam angle, aiming, and nighttime testing.

How to Position Landscape Spotlights for Trees ...

Chris Kelly

Learn how to position landscape uplights and spotlights for trees, walls, columns, and architectural features using target size, fixture distance, beam angle, aiming, and nighttime testing.

Total Light TL-PHOTOCELL for compatible landscape lighting transformers

How to Install & Position a Total Light TL-PHOT...

Chris Kelly

Install and position the Total Light TL-PHOTOCELL by confirming transformer compatibility, disconnecting power, using the provided photocell connection, choosing representative daylight exposure, and testing dusk-to-dawn operation.

How to Install & Position a Total Light TL-PHOT...

Chris Kelly

Install and position the Total Light TL-PHOTOCELL by confirming transformer compatibility, disconnecting power, using the provided photocell connection, choosing representative daylight exposure, and testing dusk-to-dawn operation.

Choosing landscape lighting fixtures for different applications

How to Choose Landscape Lighting Fixtures: Path...

Chris Kelly

Choose the right low-voltage landscape lighting fixture for walkways, trees, architecture, decks, steps, hardscapes, walls, and in-ground applications, then match it with the proper lamp and system components.

How to Choose Landscape Lighting Fixtures: Path...

Chris Kelly

Choose the right low-voltage landscape lighting fixture for walkways, trees, architecture, decks, steps, hardscapes, walls, and in-ground applications, then match it with the proper lamp and system components.

Troubleshooting common landscape lighting problems

Landscape Lighting Troubleshooting: Lights Out,...

Chris Kelly

Troubleshoot low-voltage landscape lighting step by step by symptom: whole system out, one zone out, one fixture out, dim or flickering lights, timer/photocell problems, transformer overload, voltage drop, damaged wire,...

Landscape Lighting Troubleshooting: Lights Out,...

Chris Kelly

Troubleshoot low-voltage landscape lighting step by step by symptom: whole system out, one zone out, one fixture out, dim or flickering lights, timer/photocell problems, transformer overload, voltage drop, damaged wire,...

wall washing and wall grazing landscape lighting

Wall Washing vs Wall Grazing: Landscape Lightin...

Chris Kelly

Learn the difference between wall washing and wall grazing, how fixture distance and beam spread change the effect, when to use each technique, and how to avoid hot spots and...

Wall Washing vs Wall Grazing: Landscape Lightin...

Chris Kelly

Learn the difference between wall washing and wall grazing, how fixture distance and beam spread change the effect, when to use each technique, and how to avoid hot spots and...