Solar lighting ideas for the Backyard Oasis

 

There is beauty and relaxation to a backyard in the evening. And when you add lighting either to a patio area or a garden area the landscaping comes alive.

In the recent years solar lighting is becoming very popular. One reason for its popularity is that after the initial costs for the lighting there are no additional costs.

Solar lighting works by using the sun’s energy and even on overcast days the lights will pick up enough energy to add a beautiful glow to your backyard oasis.

And the popularity of the solar lights has encouraged companies to create lighting for every type of garden and landscape décor.

If you are shopping for solar lighting for around swimming pools, ponds or any other water source, individual solar lights work the best to emphasis the landscape area.

Lighting gardens, decks, walkways, patios or decks are also possible with solar lighting. Depending on the landscape style and design you may want to go with table lamps, hanging lamps, ground lighting or a soft spotlight for a focal emphasis.

The new solar lighting possibilities are limitless. And by working with your backyard landscape design you can create a unique and inviting look.

Many homeowners are lighting their driveways, which makes certain driveways, like mine, easier to navigate in the evenings and adds a welcoming look to your home. Chain Link Fences also look wonderful with solar lighting.

And one of the biggest advantages to solar lighting is that there are less or no wiring that has to be hidden or buried around your yard. The homeowner has to remember with electrical lighting to use extra care while mowing and to check the wire often to look for wear and tear or if its properly buried so that no one will trip on the cords.

Solar lighting will light up that dark corner in your yard and will illuminate a tree or fountain, adding atmosphere to your backyard oasis.

When you are choosing solar lighting for your backyard, shop around and look at all the solar lighting available. You will also want to keep in mind the color of light that the solar light emits. Lighting is available with a white glow, amber glow, or low soft lighting.  A few lights even flash or are motion activated and work well for security purposes.

And last but not least, your backyard areas are different and may require several different styles of lighting to accent the yard to its best potential. But your lighting still needs to relate from one area to the other. This is often achieved with matching solar designs or color on the lights.

Design a backyard Play Area

 

A backyard play area is an important part of your backyard, particularly in the summer months. There are several elements to take into consideration when planning a play area.

Age is a big part of your play area design. Are your children close in age in interests or is there an age difference that will influence the play toys and equipment you add to the backyard?

Ask your children what interests them and ask for ideas. You may find that a fort or tree house fits most of their ideas. Or they may want a camping area and tent.

If the children are small a mini pool and sandbox may be a perfect idea. Just make sure to locate it close to the house and within eyesight.

Include elements and design that children can change and use for multi purposes. Old boards can be built into a temporary fort. Blankets can be made into a house with clothesline and clothespins. An old table can be used for painting, crafting ideas and for working on toy models. And a pile of sand or dirt has many purposes to a child.

Plan for rainy days. A play area on the porch or patio may be a perfect solution. When I was growing up we had a rainy day box filled with paint, paper, books  and toys we rarely played with.

Swings,  play equipment and mini pools or a water hose will also add to the backyard play area. Yard games such as ring toss or horse shoes will also add a change to backyard activities.

Create a place for your children to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Their own table and chairs or a hammock in the shade may encourage them to read a book or watch clouds or the stars at night.

You could also create a small garden area for your children. Let them choose a few flowers or vegetables. If they are grown in containers close to the house the children will be able to watch them grow and keep them watered easily.

Above all else, make sure your backyard children’s play area is safe. Check any play equipment for rough or sharp edges. Also check for sharp rocks or broken glass.

And if there is a pool take extra precautions to keep your children are supervised and safe.

Poolscape Design for a Luxurious Swimming Pool Landscape

 

Its often surprising to poolscape design professionals how little thought would-be owners of inground luxury pools spare for the details that could make their home and recreational area a coherent, architecturally attractive whole.

A large number of considerations will determine whether your swimming pool landscape design promotes privacy, convenience and safety. An intelligently conceived swimming pool landscape design will mean the difference between an area for fun and healthy exercise and one that is beautiful enough to add serious value to your home.

There is only one good option for busy individuals to ensure that attention is paid to the small details of their pools construction and design.

You’ll need to hire a seasoned construction company, preferably one that your friends or family have recommended to you. Irresponsible or unscrupulously managed construction companies are notorious for dragging out work for far longer than it needs to take, making them a serious financial risk.

If you're very lucky, you may be able to find a landscape design company that will quote you a flat rate, rather than by day or by the hour, a system which only encourages slow work.

Pretty much one of the best landscaping ideas for privacy, and a poolscape design that will look great and guard your pool area from inquiring eyes, is to surround it with foliage, creating a thick screen of protective greenery.

The trees you pick do need to be chosen wisely, though. Any tree with an extensive root system will, given a few years, cause damage to the foundation of your home or of your swimming pool. Also trees that drop their leaves in autumn are going to be more trouble than they're worth – you'd prefer your pools good hygiene to be as low-maintenance as possible.

Rather go for evergreen trees – the minimal amount of mess they will create and their consistently beautiful, lush appearance means you wont suddenly find your private space laid bare in winter.

One way to get the lush look you want without cluttering up your swimming pool landscape is to grow vines up trellises. Espalier trees ( trees the branches of which have been pruned and groomed to grow horizontally to either side rather than every which way) are another attractive option, as they create a flat barrier of branches.

These are the best landscaping ideas for privacy, the alternative being a fence or wall, which will lack the gentle arboreal and natural feel of vegetation, but provide the safety and security you might prize over those traits if you have small children.

Another serious consideration if that is the case is getting hold of a strong pool cover that will support the weight of your child should they happen to fall on it.

Its also a good idea to surround your pool with patio tiling, ensuring you of a safe, non-slip surface when you get out of the pool. Lazing outside is one of the most luxurious parts of having a pool, so think about the social space you are constructing and how many people you would  like to be able to entertain.

Lastly, think about style. You would ideally like your swimming pool landscape design to echo the architectural features of your home. Often people renovate their houses without giving any thought to the outmoded style of the pool in the backyard.

Look at a variety of custom designs, remembering always that your dream swimming pool will be the one that fits seamlessly into your dream home.

Plan your Landscape Lighting Before You Plan Your Party

 

Spring has arrived, the weather is great and your friends are starting to wonder when you plan to invite them over for your first cookout.

Maybe you’re like me and it’s those gatherings with the people who really matter in your life that makes spring and summer complete. You aim for perfection, but you know there’s always some nagging little hurdle to overcome.

Having long ago accepted the inevitability of the unexpected problem cropping up, I tend to prepare in advance of any outdoor gathering. Just before the event I ensure the grill has plenty propane available (even purchasing a spare tank if things are questionable) and I test light it and let it burn for 10 or 15 minutes.

I run through a quick check-list to cover available beverages and food (always buying a bit extra for the additional guest who may accompany one of my planned visitors). Finally, I check the fuel in my tiki torches and test light them.

Did he just say he tests his tiki torches? Yes he did. Though you may think that’s a bit unusual, setting a mood is one of those subtle but critical elements to hosting a great party and I’ve been unpleasantly surprised by my lighting choice in the past by torches that wouldn’t light, so they’re part of the check list.

It’s the little things that get you in the end. Though there isn’t much to tiki torches beyond a wick, fuel reservoir and the stick to hold them up, these deceptively simple critters can suffer from performance anxiety for several reasons. The obvious one being lack of fuel, but that’s not the only reason. So, lesson learned, I test them.

But is all really lost just because a few lousy torches wouldn’t light? Of course not, but my goals won’t be met as lighting plays such a critical part in the overall design of my yard.

A dramatically accent-lit yard pulls everything together. Whether its a tropical paradise (what I’m shooting for), or painting with light in a formal setting elegantly lit by professional landscape light    ing, you really lose something when it’s missing.

It’s a little like erasing Mona Lisa’s hint of a smile or fixing the foundation under the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What you’re left with is still beautiful and artistic, but diminished for the absence of that special something that makes it memorable. The devil is in the details, folks.

And that’s just the day-of prep. For advanced, dig deeper. This is the opportunity to look beyond the food you’ll be serving and think about atmosphere.

Lighting, particularly in-ground lighting, requires taking the time to plan. Do you want something classy? Perhaps the mysterious or fanciful is more your speed. Whatever setting you’re going for, try to make it an escape from everyday life for both you and your guests.

Evening events depend on lighting both for the safety of your guests but also for the atmosphere the lights create. I use tiki torches because I want to set a tropical feel, but in-ground, low-voltage lighting can amazing results. Invest the time to learn about various lighting techniques such as accent lighting and moonlighting and then build your paradise.

In taking the time to plan and carefully implement your landscaping and outdoor lighting objectives well in advance of entertaining guests, you present an event that becomes supremely memorable.

Rather than just raving about your mastery of the grill, your guests will leave your event feeling they’ve just enjoyed a vacation from their everyday lives. And guess what they’ll be daydreaming about the following Monday at work. Providing, of course, you remembered to test your lighting before they arrived.