Highlighting rather than lighting

Most outdoor lighting helps you see where you are walking. A garden spotlight does something different: it draws attention to a particular feature. Place one at the foot of a beautiful tree and shine it upwards, and in the evening you get a silhouette that you barely noticed during the day. The same works with a shrub, an ivy-covered wall, a statue or a façade. It is precisely the contrast between areas of light and dark that gives a garden depth.

Mains power or solar?

Mains-powered models provide more brightness and are reliable all year round. Solar garden spotlights need no wiring and can be pushed straight into the ground. If you want to light up a large tree, mains power is the better choice. For a shrub or a small feature, solar can work perfectly well and saves you having to dig a trench.

Where do you place it?

Place the spotlight at the foot of the object and aim it upwards for the best effect. Do not position it right against the object. Instead, move it slightly away so the light catches the texture of the bark or wall. Aim it so you do not look directly into the light from your patio and so it does not disturb your neighbours. Light that shines past a tree and up into the sky is simply wasted.

What to look for

Pay attention to the stated protection rating (IP rating): a garden spotlight stands low to the ground, where water can splash up. Choose a tiltable model so you can adjust the angle later as your tree grows. Lay cables that run underground using an underground power cable, and make a note of where they run before you fill in the trench.