Lighting is the cheapest way to double the hours your yard is usable, and the fastest way to make a modest landscape look designed. It is also where the most corners get cut.
Techniques worth using
Combine three or four; avoid lighting everything evenly.
- Uplighting specimen trees and architectural plants — the workhorse
- Grazing across stone and stucco walls to reveal texture
- Downlighting / moonlighting from a tree canopy for soft, natural pools of light
- Step and wall lights for safety, mounted low and shielded
- Path lights used sparingly — 8 to 12 feet apart, never a runway of matched pairs
Specs that determine lifespan
Brass and copper fixtures outlast aluminum and plastic dramatically in coastal salt air — non-negotiable in La Jolla, Coronado, Ocean Beach and Imperial Beach. Use 12-gauge direct-burial wire, waterproof silicone-filled connectors, and size the transformer to no more than 80% of capacity.
Color temperature: 2700K for warm, natural results. 4000K makes plants look gray-blue and hospital-lit.
Cost expectations
A quality low-voltage system runs roughly $250–$450 per fixture installed including wire, transformer and controls. A typical yard uses 12–24 fixtures. Cheap kit systems cost a fifth of that and are usually replaced within three to five years.
Frequently asked
- Solar or low-voltage?
- Low-voltage, for consistent output and lifespan. Solar is fine for accent only.
- Can lighting be added later?
- Yes, but sleeve under hardscape during construction. Retrofitting under a finished patio means cutting it.
- Smart control?
- Astronomical timers and app-based zoning are worth it — set dusk-to-11pm and a low late-night scene.