15 Christmas Light Safety Tips: Be Safe in the Holidays

The holiday season brings with it the yearning to indulge in savories and light up your home with colorful holiday lights. Well, when it comes to holiday decorations and lighting, it’s crucial to prioritize safety. So, before starting with the decorations, it’s wise to get the necessary knowledge about Christmas light safety.  

We’re here to help you light up your home safely for the holidays, by offering you some handy holiday lighting safety tips. Read on… 

Before Hanging Christmas Lights 

Before putting up your Christmas lights, there are certain things you should do to make sure they are safe. 

1.Verify Proper Rating 

Bargain lights are not a great buy if they pose the risk of a fire hazard. Go for only those lights that are rated and tested by Intertek (ETL Semko) or Underwriter’s Laboratory. Strings of lights with a safety rating have clear markings on them – on the packaging as well as on labels attached to the electrical cords.  

2. Use as Directed 

Indoor holiday lights differ significantly from outdoor holiday lights. Prior to hanging lights, ensure that you’re placing the fixtures in the environment they’re built to be used. This would help you prevent any indoor or outdoor Christmas lights fire hazard.  

3. Check for Fraying 

After removing your Christmas lights from storage, check the cords for ensuring that they aren’t frayed or damaged in any way. Using lights having damaged cords can result in an electrical short. This may cause damage to your holiday decorations and other lights as well as pose the risk of fire. In case you notice any damaged light strings, discard them.  

4. Choose Locations Carefully 

Don’t hang holiday lights close to any item posing a risk of fire hazard, like fireplaces, space heaters, candles etc. Alongside, ensure that the bulbs are at a safe distance from loose paper or other types of flammable materials presenting a safety hazard.  

5. Hang Holiday Lights Carefully 

Avoid using nails, staples, or tacks for hanging your Christmas lights. Use insulated holders instead that are designed specifically for this purpose.  

After Hanging Christmas Lights 

Once your Christmas lights are in place, there are certain things you need to do.  

6. Avoid Leaving the Lights on Unattended 

Turn off your holiday lights any time you won’t be nearby to look after them. So, if you’re leaving your home for some time or going to sleep, ensure that you turn off the lights before doing so.  

Although this may seem hectic, you can find several products that simplify it, such as remote controls that let you turn off the lights by touching a button and Christmas light timers. If you tend to forget, go for an automated timer for your outdoor lighting, which illuminates your holiday decorations once it’s dark outside and switches them off at sunrise.  

7. Place candles carefully 

The flickering of warm candlelight feels quite comforting on a cozy night during the holidays. However, candles can be risky especially in homes with pets or kids prone to knocking things over accidentally. Make sure lit candles are placed above the reach of your pets and kids as well as at a safe distance from inflammable materials like wrapping paper or curtains. You can go for flameless candles instead that can eliminate the risk of fires and burns.  

8. Use LED Lighting rather than Incandescent Lights 

Although LED lights are a bit costlier, they are a better option for outdoors and indoors when it comes to safety. They work well for holiday decorations due to the low level of heat they produce. Additionally, they consume 75% less electricity and last about 25 times longer.  

9. Don’t Interchange Outdoor and Indoor Lights 

Although indoor lights may be a bit cheaper, avoid using them in place of outdoor lights. Compared to outdoor lights, indoor lights are less sealed against moisture that makes them unsafe for wet winter times. If you have doubts about the type of lighting you have, check the label or discard them and get new lights.  

10. Discard Old Lights 

Passing down holiday lighting can be nice; however, strands of old lights being used from several years can be quite dangerous. As compared to old lights, modern lights are quite safer since they consist of fused plugs that prevent sparks in case of a short circuit.  

11. Use Only Three Light Strands in each Outlet 

The number of strings of lights that can be connected together in sequence relies on the wattage of the strands as well as the house circuit’s maximum watt capacity. Figuring out what’s safe may require you doing some math. If you think you might calculate that number wrongly, try keeping each outlet to three light strands or fewer. Moreover, consider using a power strip having an inbuilt circuit breaker rather than your wall outlet for additional protection.  

12. Fasten All your Outdoor Light Strings Securely 

Outdoor Christmas light strings may be blown loose by winter storms leading to potential electrical Christmas light hazards. Fasten the lighting to firm objects such as walls or trees so that your lights are secure and stay where they belong. Additionally, fasten your indoor lights out of the reach of small children and pets to prevent any chewing mishaps, which may lead to accidental electrocution.  

13. Use Extension Cords Carefully 

If your extension cords are placed low enough for them to be surrounded by melted snow or pools of rain, outdoor lighting can create a safety risk. Make sure the cords are dry and use surge protectors for minimizing damage in the event of voltage fluctuation.  

14. Prevent your Christmas Tree from Posing the Risk of a Fire Hazard 

Unfortunately, the leading cause behind house fires in the holidays is Christmas trees. Although real trees come with their benefits, artificial trees are safer. Most of the artificial Christmas trees are made up of fire-resistant materials, which makes them safe to be decorated and lit up.  

However, in case you choose a real tree, ensure that it’s fresh while buying and you keep the tree well watered. If the tree dries out, remove it immediately as it’s not safe anymore to be kept at home.  

15. Don’t Use Electric Lights on Trees made of Metal 

Your holiday décor can sparkle with tinsel and shiny aluminum Christmas trees. However, if you choose a metallic tree, make sure you don’t use any electric lights and/or decorations on it. A metallic tree can become charged with electricity easily and give a “shock” to anyone touching it.  

 

Whether you go for simple Christmas decorations or a grand one this holiday season, your highest priority should be the safety of your home and family. Following the above Christmas light, safety tips can help you enjoy the holidays while being safe. 

The post 15 Christmas Light Safety Tips: Be Safe in the Holidays appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

7 Trends You May Have Missed About Outdoor Lighting Ideas

The fun doesn’t have to end just because the sun goes down and it’s dark out now, call AATB to fulfill all your outdoor lighting requirements today! Remember, it is not just about hanging your lights on the wall in the garden. Your outdoor lighting ideas should be the right mix of creativity with a dose of functionality. With AATB, you won’t just light up your gardens and lawns to see, you’ll light up your house in style! 

Party on the patio 

Patios are probably one of the most popular places to continue a party once the night begins. Take help from outdoor landscape lighting to illuminate it. You may not be able to bring the moon into your yard, but you can get pretty close with AATB’s tree-mounted lights. Bathe it with mellowed softness and amp up the party mood with hanging patio lights. Take help of low-voltage outdoor lighting to create a beautiful space in your lawn.  

Happy glow in the lawn 

Show off your lawn in style with custom lighting solutions from AATB. Night Time Décor by All American Turf Beauty is known to provide unique lighting solutions for your homes. You can have a design consultation and a property demo. Once you approve the ‘lighted portrait’ of your home, lighting professionals in AATB will include your suggestions in the design.  

You will find your home to be a totally different experience once the design is finalized and landscape lighting is installed. No need to be afraid of the dark anymore. The night is young, so why not enjoy a stroll through your carefully crafted masterpiece? 

A fetching façade with architectural lighting 

Highlight some of the best features of your home with architectural lighting. Choose upward-facing bullet outdoor LED lights and install them a foot away from the foundation. It will not only focus on the most appealing features of your home but will show off your homes differently. Highlight areas like dormers, deep eaves or porch columns. 

Design a beautiful backyard 

Why should you restrict your outdoor accent lighting to the front of the house? Often neglected, but with immense potential to look beautiful, backyards should definitely have a touch of garden lighting. Go for tree-mounted downlights with up lighting which show off the larger trees. Choose hanging lights for the swing. Your backyard looks inviting and seems perfect for an evening rendezvous. 

Attract customers with commercial landscape lighting 

Never limit your outdoor lighting ideas to your homes. If you have a business, give an extra edge to your commercial properties with a beautiful lighting system. It is a brilliant idea for businesses which close late at night. Your business can easily turn into a favorite hanging spot for late night shoppers and people who love a cozy ambience to enjoy leisure time.  

A porch that spells elegance 

Are you one of those who fumble for your key and then at your lock every time you are out during nights? Time to add the safety shield without compromising on the beauty of the porch. Create a warm and inviting feel to your porch with pendant lighting. Whether you choose an impeccably contemporary or traditionally classic lighting solution, your home will greet you in style every time! 

Are you ready to soak in the Holiday spirit?  

Enjoy a spectacular display which is bright and cheery and does not create a hole in the pocket with AATB ‘s efficient lighting system. All American Turf Beauty has come up with a unique custom lighting solution. With this system, there will be a one-time permanent installation. No need to take down the lights after Christmas or New Year. 

The best thing about this lighting solution is that it has a cloud-based control solution. You can change the lights of the colors from any smartphone, tablet and web browser literally from anywhere.  

This sophisticated product takes exterior lighting to a whole new level. It is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it is a sustainable solution as the LED lights consume 87% less electricity. With a 7-year warranty, you are assured of brightening your outdoors for every occasion.  

Create an edge to your business with Holiday lighting 

Did you know that holiday décor can drastically improve your business? Everyone loves a warm and comfortable ambience during Holidays. With attractive decorations, your employees are in a joyous mood as they love to work in a merry ambience. If you are in retail, nothing boosts the morale of your customers better than a well-lit place which spells happiness. 

Time to bring in the AATB experts who will go the extra length to make your properties Instagram-worthy! 

The post 7 Trends You May Have Missed About Outdoor Lighting Ideas appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

Overseeding Lawn in Fall: A Great Way to Grow a Lush Lawn!

Fall certainly has its own charm, with everything pumpkin-flavored, lots of earthy hues, and hoodie weather! This season also makes a great time for lawn care. Following a hot summer, the cool climate brings favorable growing conditions for grass on your lawn. In the fall, you can address the damage that took place during the summer, get ready for the rough winter months, and prepare yourself for a successful spring. Lawn aeration and overseeding your lawn are tasks that should be carried out at least once a year, and completing these tasks during the fall season will ensure a healthy and beautiful lawn! 

Before diving into why fall is the best time for these lawn care activities, let’s have a look at what is overseeding. 

 

What is Overseeding? 

Planting grass seed into existing turf directly – without tearing up the soil or turf – is called overseeding. It’s a simple and effective way of improving turf density, filling in bare spots, establishing improved grass varieties, and improving the color of your lawn.  

If a lawn appears to be worn out or old, needs increasing quantities of fertilizer and water to flourish, or is prone to insects or diseases, it needs overseeding.  

What are the Benefits of Overseeding? 

Many of the older lawns were set up with turfgrasses of common types, which are not suitable for homeowners of today. They are more prone to insects and diseases, calling for more water and fertilizer.  

Overseeding newer varieties of turfgrass into an old lawn can enhance its ability to withstand heavy traffic, shady conditions, drought, disease, and insects. Investing in overseeding cuts down on the amount of water, pesticides, and fertilizer required. Moreover, your lawn will look healthier and thicker, and it will stay greener.  

 

Fall – The Right Time for Overseeding Lawn 

If you are thinking when to overseed your lawn, here’s an insight. Overseeding for lawns that involve Cool season grasses should be carried out in early fall or late summer. When overseeding is done in fall, the young grass has two to three months for becoming better established before the setting in of winter when the temperatures fall too low, stopping the growth.  

Next spring, the grass will get another few months for developing deeper roots prior to the summer heat sets in. This makes the chief reason for overseeding lawn in fall, but other reasons are also there. Some of them are: 

• Overseeding lawns during fall provides a head start to the grass. The roots of the grass become stable before the arrival of winter. This reduces crop loss significantly in case of a dry, hot spring.  
• Soil moisture and amounts of rain are usually better during fall. 
• During the fall, the soil temperature is still warm, which is essential for seed germination. On the other hand, the cooler air temperature is favorable for grass growth.  
• Overseeding grass in fall eliminates or lowers competition from different summer weedy grasses, like foxtails, crabgrass, and other weeds. 

  

What Grasses Benefit from Overseeding?

Overseeding is not required for all grass types. Overseeding is primarily necessary for cool season grasses like annual and perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and occasionally bluegrass. Exceptions are there, but for most of the home lawns, types of grass that spread through “runners” production are usually not overseeded unless it’s diseased or damaged. This includes most grass varieties of warm season, with an exception being bermudagrass which is overseeded during the fall occasionally.

 

How to Overseed Lawn?

For cool-season varieties of turf, the process of overseeding should be started by aerating the lawn thoroughly. The new seed should be applied using a fertilizer spreader, while following the recommended coverage rate of the product. Seeds falling in the aeration holes is ideal as this would prevent them from drying out quickly and help them germinate faster. Consider ushering more seeds into these holes using a rake’s backside.

Once the seeding has been done, apply a good fall fertilizer to your lawn. Make sure you apply the fertilizer the same day you’ve done the seeding. Then, water your lawn. Water one or two times each day until you find the new grass starting to grow.

Germination of the seeds may require two weeks or more. Continue mowing your lawn as usual until the grass growth stops for the season.

 

What Seed Type should be Used?

Ensure that you choose an appropriate grass seed type according to your climate, whether it’s a warm season or cool season. Additionally, select the right seed type based on the lawn’s use – whether your lawn is low-maintenance and purely for aesthetic purposes or intensely maintained and high-use.

It’s wise to not go for the cheapest grass seed available. Grass seeds come in different qualities. The cheap seeds are often made of poor-performing, generic grass varieties or, worse, contain filler like annual ryegrass or weed seeds. It’s not necessary to get the most expensive grass seed out there, however, opt for a seed of good quality and make sure it is highly preferred by several local experts.

 

Wrap Up 

So, if you think your lawn needs a revamp, go for lawn aeration and overseeding in the fall! Investing some time in overseeding during the fall can truly work wonders for the appearance and health of your lawn.

All American Turf Beauty, an Iowa–based reputed lawn care company, can expertly handle all lawn care jobs including fall aeration and seeding of lawns. Our experienced lawn care professionals can help you attain a beautiful green and healthy lawn. Call our company today to discuss your lawn care requirements!

The post Overseeding Lawn in Fall: A Great Way to Grow a Lush Lawn! appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

Tune up Fall Garden Soil: Prepare your Lawns the Healthy Way

 

It’s been a long and hot summer, and now it’s time to prepare your lawn for the fall. The lawn looks dull and you wonder what you could have done to make it healthier. It may come as a surprise, but fall is the best time to improve the quality of soil in your lawn. A little work in the fall, and you can save a lot of time and energy during the winter and spring. Let’s find out how you can prepare your lawns for cold weather the healthy way. 

Begin with a soil test 

The summer days can make soil worn out and dry, but it’s not possible to know the extent of the damage without a soil test. Take a soil sample and get it tested with your lawn care specialist. The results will help you determine the best fertilizers to use for improving the soil. Depending on soil quality, you can understand what nutrients are missing and how to increase the pH level. 

Is ‘till’ a big deal? 

Wet or damp soil during spring makes spading tough. Tilling in wet soil can result in clods, which are difficult to break. But tilling or spading in fall allows the soil to naturally break into particles. In the different phases of winter, freezing and thawing leaves a nice texture on the lawns. This way, you can have that crumbly fall garden soil which is perfect for spring planting. 

Fall is also a good time to add potassium and phosphorus to the soil. Adding these will enrich the ground and adjust the pH level in your soil. Fall is the best time to add these nutrients so that they blend in and add to the texture. Soil preparation is the foundation for healthy plants, so don’t ignore it! 

Check soil pH level 

A plant can grow in soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 7.0. An increase from 5.5 to 6.8 can ensure better growth of plants. Any inconsistency in soil pH levels can lead to problems like iron deficiency in plants. Adding lime to acidic soils will increase pH levels. If you notice a magnesium deficiency, tune up your fall garden soil with dolomitic limestone. It’ll take some time for the liming materials to impact the soil, so apply them well ahead of planting time. 

You can determine the amount of lime needed in your fall garden by testing the existing pH level and soil texture. To raise it by 1 point, you can add about 4 pounds of ground limestone to every 100 square feet for sandy soils. The amount will be 10 pounds for clay soil and 7-8 pounds for loamy soils. 

Start the organic diet 

The fresh blooms in the spring are a beautiful sight. However, we often miss the underground activities taking place when the soil comes to life in the spring. All the organisms in the soil come into existence in the spring, and it’s important to start your soil building exercises early, preferably in the fall.   

Look around and you will notice a lot of organic fertilizers like garden debris, fallen leaves, and even kitchen scraps which can be used in lawns. Add organic matter in the top 2 inches of soil and cover with mulch. This is the time to add potassium, phosphorus, lime, and concentrated manures. By spring they’ll break down and prepare the ground for good growth. 

A nod to nitrogen 

Nitrogen deserves special attention among all the nutrients used to improve fall garden soil. Even after years of soil building, nitrogen often begins depleting and needs to be restored from time to time. Nitrogen not only helps in plant growth, but it also feeds soil organisms. 

Before the arrival of spring, your lawn should have enough nitrogen for the new season. We recommend that you include bone meal in your fall lawn care schedule since it’s rich in concentrated nitrogen. On the other hand, fall legume can transfer nitrogen to the soil from the atmosphere. Other elements that are rich in nitrogen include green grass clippings or manure.  

‘Cover’ lawns with cover crops 

Did you know one of the best sources of nutrients for your soil is living plants? Popularly known as cover crops, they are helpful in preventing soil erosion. Crops such as annual ryegrass, winter wheat or winter rye are normally seeded during the fall, ideally 6 weeks before the first frost.  

Clean your old plants, till the soil, and plant the cover crops. Allow them to grow, till during early spring, and then till it underground. There should be a gap of few weeks between tilling and planting. This will give the cover crop time to break and add essential nutrients to the soil. 

Enjoy the crisp autumn weather while getting your lawn ready for the spring. Take a deep breath and you simply can’t miss the smell of freshly turned soil! 

The post Tune up Fall Garden Soil: Prepare your Lawns the Healthy Way appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

8 Amazing Landscaping Ideas to Make Your Yard Stand Out

A beautiful yard can not only be a source of joy to you and your family but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home. Here, we have presented some creative landscaping ideas to add elements of interest, functionality, texture, and color to your yard. Create a beautiful and timeless landscape that’s a treat to the eyes as well as easy to maintain! 

Landscaping Ideas to Increase Your Yard’s Appeal 

1. Go for Native Plants 

Just like grass, which should be chosen based on suitability to the region, you should choose native plants that call for less upkeep. Choosing plants which are native to a specific area or grow well there, would keep your pruning and water costs down, and your plants would thrive.  

2. Create Curved Lines 

Landscapers often create edging around driveways, sidewalks, the house foundation, and flower gardens. Creating the edging as curves instead of perfectly straight lines lends character and appeal, and so, is one of the most interesting landscaping ideas. Since the edging is permanent, your landscape looks great all-round the year. This is quite an easy way of turning your lawn from plain and boring to beautiful.  

3. Get Potted Plants 

Adding pots into landscaping lowers the maintenance needs of a yard as well as boosts its versatility. With potted plants, you can add color to various parts of your yard easily, and you can move them from one place to another easily too. For some added interest and color, match flowers to the season. Go for red and yellow flowers in the fall, and white and pink flowers in the summer and spring.  

4. Combine a Wide Range of Plants 

Select a broad range of plants, the flowers of which bloom at different times. Hence, ornamental leaves would be visible throughout the season. If all flowers blossom at the same time, your yard would look appealing during that timespan but would lack color during remaining time of the year. Consider going for a perennial such as Rozanne geranium as it blossoms from the month of June through October.  

5. Plant Lavender 

Lavender adds a pop of color, a relaxing aroma, and you need to water it once or twice every week only, if the climate you live in doesn’t have regular rain. Lavender also acts like a bug repellent, hence consider planting it near the patio. 

6. Connect the Attractive Elements with a Walkway 

Rather than trampling down your lawn and creating a makeshift walkway of dead grass between the garden, fire pit, patio, create a visually appealing path with concrete stepping stones, decorative brick, natural flagstone, or crushed stone.  

Create a walkway, pathway, or any other feature of landscaping using material which is similar to or the same as that used on the house’s exterior, like stone or brick, as this will tie the walkway to your home aesthetically. Alternatively, use the material for creating an attractive edging along your walkway.  

7. Create a Natural Water Feature 

Add a water feature that looks like it’s a part of the surroundings. It can be a self-contained, small unit standing alone on the patio. You can employ natural stone for building it, or you can go for the same material or stone that’s on the house.  

Avoid using too many materials as the effort may not be effective. A good practice is not using more than 3 elements in an area, or the region may look too congested.  

8. Lighten Up Walkways and Focal Points 

You would want your beautiful landscaping to be visible even after sunset, and that’s why you need landscape lights. Installing outdoor lighting is one of the best ideas for landscaping your yard. These lights have many roles to play – showcasing interesting elements in the landscape, illuminating sidewalk and steps for safety, and enhancing the appeal of the home.  

Types of Landscape Lighting 

Following are some of the chief types of landscape lighting you can choose from: 

• Step Lights 

There’s a risk of tripping and stumbling on outdoor steps and stairs at night. Step lights are a solution to this issue. Installed immediately nearby steps or directly into steps, step lights facilitate safe passage during nighttime. 

Apart from boosting safety, the lights increase the visual appeal and overall look of the stairs and steps too. 

• Deck Lights 

If you have a deck or patio outdoors, especially in an area that’s otherwise area, it’s a must to install deck lights on it.  

The purpose of these lights is making the whole deck surface visible at night.  

Although the primary purpose of deck lights is enhancing safety by creating a clear, visible boundary, these lights can act like the primary lights for entertaining too.  

• Postmount Lights 

Postmount lights are formed by mounting outdoor lanterns on the top of tall posts.  

Known as piermount lights sometimes, they are great options for fences, entryways, and gates. Consider placing them in regions where your guests assemble, like a patio or deck, to make sure sufficient light is available for everyone.  

Columnmount lights are a similar option. These lights do the same job, but are mounted over brick, concrete, or stone columns rather than posts.  

• Path Lights 

A lighted path guiding your guests to the door creates a welcoming ambience. You can do this by installing path lighting. This is the most common type of outdoor lighting and is used for lightening up driveways, walkways, and paths making up the landscaping of your home.  

Other applications of path lights include framing a particular region of the yard, highlighting a foundation or pond, or emphasizing a specific feature in your yard.  

• Bollard Lights 

Bollard lights – the heavy-duty version of path lights – does similar jobs, including illuminating driveways, walkways, and pathways. 

They have some decorative elements that make them a popular outdoor lighting option. As these lights are larger compared to path lights, they usually comprise more complex ornamentation and designs.  

For illuminating paths, small bollards are the right option, while larger bollards make a suitable choice for framing gateways and entrances. 

• Spotlight 

The most versatile outdoor lighting type is the spotlight. You can use them for highlighting natural features like shrubbery, flowers, trees, or other plants, or for emphasizing man-made features like buildings, sculptures, or architectural elements of other types.  

Owing to the powerful illumination offered by spotlights, they also make a good choice for security lighting.  

 

Summing Up 

Now that you know these front and backyard landscaping ideas, try them out to take your lawn décor to the next level. These garden landscaping ideas can make your yard a safe and appealing place even after dark. The types of outdoor lighting discussed here would help you choose the lights for your yard. 

If you want your yard to stand out, we can help you with our professional Architectural Landscape Lighting Services. All American Turf Beauty is a reputed lawn care company based in Iowa with expertise in landscaping and outdoor lighting installation for homes. If you have a landscaping project in mind, we’ll love to hear about it! Give us a call today!  

The post 8 Amazing Landscaping Ideas to Make Your Yard Stand Out appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

Benefits of Outdoor Lighting: Safety, Security and More!

We all love to have a beautiful home – one with a lush lawn, flower beds, and a porch. However, once you’ve had all these elements to beautify your home in Iowa, your work isn’t over! You need to add outdoor lighting and garden lights around your home to enhance safety as well as highlight the best features of your yard.  

Outdoor lighting offers a number of benefits to homeowners besides increased safety and aesthetic appeal. Listed down are the chief benefits you can get by adding outdoor landscape lighting around your home. 

Key Benefits of Outdoor Lighting 

1. Illuminates Your Living Space Outdoors 

Besides your living room, let your living space in the outdoors be a place where you can spend quality time with family and friends. Your backyard and patio are great places for entertaining guests, having meals, and spending time with children. Outdoor lighting illuminates your outdoors making them suitable to be used at nighttime.  

Outdoor landscape lighting can lend the right ambiance to the outdoor space whether you are sipping a cup of tea before bed alone or you are spending time with your family. You can also go for outdoor lights equipped with the dim feature. This would let you use the bright lights when your kids are playing outside and the low lights while spending romantic evenings with your husband/wife.  

You can find outdoor lights in various designs and shapes, which simplifies finding lights fitting other characteristics of your home. From functional to decorative, the range is quite broad for these lights.  

2. Boosts your Property’s Curb Appeal and Value 

Any upgradation of your property will boost its value. The plus with exterior lighting is that the return on investment is immediate, while you can enjoy all the benefits they offer. As per the National Association of Home Builders, outdoor lighting is an essential quality for 41% of prospective buyers for a desired home, and it is a desirable quality for 49% of buyers.  

The strategic placement of exterior lighting throughout the yard can help you increase your home’s curb appeal and showcase its great features. These lights can also help you highlight your home’s special architectural features.  

3. Highlights Your Landscaping Décor 

Outdoor lighting can highlight several features of your landscaping décor.  

Energy-efficient solar lights are great ways to guide people to the front door over walkways and paths. Exterior lighting can also be used for marking property lines and creating barriers to yard areas where people should not walk over. These lights can also let you showcase your yard’s special features. Consider placing lights beside water features such as ponds or fountains, or to highlight trees.  

You can also use garden lights throughout the flower beds to showcase all the beautiful hues. This would let you enjoy your garden during nighttime too. Landscape lighting can be incorporated into railings or posts in staircases, used overhead on your porches, or placed on the ground.  

4. Increases Safety 

Outdoor lighting is not only visually appealing, they are also an effective way to increase the safety of your property, making it safer for your family and friends. Light posts can be used for illuminating your driveway, walkways, and paths, which enhance your property’s safety. Additionally, it’s important to place exterior lighting near any uneven areas or stairs.  

By guiding people, the lights will help in preventing injuries from falling at night. This would also decrease the risk of slipping and falling of passersby near your home, and you being sued for damages.  

Consider placing landscape lighting at high traffic areas such as outdoor seating area, around the pool, decks, and patios.  

5. Hinders Crimes 

A key advantage of outdoor lights is that they make your home more secure and hinder crimes. Many sources state that the most common crime occurring in homes is burglary – which happens every 13 seconds in the United States.  

Illuminate the dark nooks and crannies in your property’s outdoors by installing flood lights. A well-lit porch and an illuminated, clear path leading to your home’s front door also make guests feel more comfortable when visiting your home at nighttime.  

Well-maintained outdoor lighting indicates that you care well for your home, which can prevent theft and trespassing.  

In case you’re worried about increase in your utility bills owing to constant outdoor lights, consider using lights equipped with motion sensors that come on only when there are people in the range. These lights will not only save you money but also surprise people that try trespassing on your property. Several outdoor lights come with the option to set timers, which causes them to come on when it becomes dark outside, or during the time you are away from home.  

6. Increased Functionality 

Outdoor lights increase the functionality of the outdoor space. When you have proper lighting, it’s possible to use the front and backyard even after sunset and during nighttime.  

Flood lights installed outside a house provide enough light to illuminate a section of the yard or a patio area. Outdoor lights attached to the deck posts brighten up the space for late-night conversations or dining. To add extra lighting around your patio table, you can avail special lights that are designed to be attached to table umbrella. 

 

Summing Up 

Considering the valuable benefits of outdoor lighting, make sure your next landscaping project includes installing them on your property! All American Turf Beauty, based in Iowa, can expertly handle your landscape light installation requirements. We can beautify your home with quality outdoor LED lighting, LED garden lights, porch lights and more, according to your requirements. Gives us a call today to discuss your project!  

The post Benefits of Outdoor Lighting: Safety, Security and More! appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..

Add Value to Homes with 11 Types of LED Landscape Lighting

LED landscape lighting can beautifully transform your gardens and take your yard from basic to bling in a minute. But, before you upgrade your outdoor lighting system, you need to have a proper lighting plan. Often in order to create drama and intrigue in a well-lit space you need the perfect interplay of light and shade. Here are 11 landscape lighting ideas which will help you to highlight the best features of your garden.  

1. Up for up lighting? 

Although up lighting is known as one of the basic forms in landscape lighting design, it can create a lot of beautiful diversions in your garden. Taller structures like trees are best illuminated with this technique. If you want to accent specific features of trees in your yard, the up-lighting system is the best solution. Mount a floodlight or a spotlight on the ground for accentuating the tree trunk or the underside of tree’s canopy.  

2. The adorable effects of moon lighting 

If you have larger trees in your garden, they can be best highlighted with moon lighting or alternatively known as down lighting. In this kind of lighting technique, the light fixture is placed high up on the tree. But the light is aimed down which illuminates the branches and the ground below with light. This type of light creates an impressive effect on an open-branched tree. 

3. Silhouetting the architectural features 

Often the dramatic accents of your garden remain hidden in broad daylight. With silhouetting you can highlight these shapes and create a fantastic effect. With this kind of accent lighting, you just need to put the light behind the specific item and create a vantage point. Even though spaces are illuminated, the light source should always remain invisible. 

4. Effective cross lighting for outdoors 

When you want to create a soft shadowy effect with landscape lighting, think about cross lighting. The horizontally positioned lights on the ground are placed in precise positions to create texture and depth. As the light beams blend with the evening shadows, they create a crisscross illusion and a magnificent display, something that will make your gardens stand out.  

5. Impact of shadowing with LED landscape lighting 

Known as the reverse technique of silhouetting, the LED garden lights are placed between the garden accent and the main vantage point in shadowing. The source of light should be aimed at the accent piece. When you have a flat surface like a wall behind the accent piece, the effects are more vivid. You will love the soft moody effect of shadowing in your outdoor landscape. Some of the commonly used lights in shadowing are flood, well and spotlights.  

6. The grazing effects of LED landscape lighting 

When most of your garden boasts of hardscape, the grazing technique can work beautifully for your outdoors. In this design, the lights are placed close to hard surfaces which creates an interplay of light and shadow. The grazing effect can be displayed either in upward or downward movement. It is the texture of the surface which determines the grazing effect. The lighting technique works best if you have an irregular or uneven pattern.  

7. The awesome path lighting technique 

You can reinvent the concept of security lights with innovative path lights. Light up your driveways and paths with different lighting fixtures of varied shapes and styles. These will not only beautify your outdoors but will make your perimeters more secured. These lights will also help to prevent accidents along the pathways. 

8. Light washing technique for your gardens 

If you are keen on ambient lights, you may consider the light ‘washing’ technique. You can flood a hedge or a wall with light so that the space looks well-lit. Go for a wide-beamed light which can be placed between the wall surface and main vantage point. The entire area will be flooded with light, but the effects will not be overwhelming. 

9. Step up with step lighting system 

When you desire soft illumination without a glare, think about small fixtures in the form of step lights. They are placed in such a manner that they cast a shielded light across decks and steps. Although very similar to path lights, the step lights allow you to figure out any obstructions on the way. Choose small step lights to create concentrated illumination in specific areas.  

10.Accentuate your outdoors with accent lights 

Known as spot lighting, this form of LED landscape lighting is a step ahead of security lights. When you want to highlight a particular feature of your garden like a statue, signage or a sculpture, you can use the accent lights. These types of lights are more directed towards the specifics of a garden. These are particularly useful in showcasing separate elements of a garden.   

11. Add style with layered lighting 

When you add highs and lows to your lighting plan, they add drama to your outdoors creating a layered effect. Layered lighting is crucial for creating the right ambience for different situations. You can either put different lights in one circuit. Or you can take help of specific controls and dimmers to create different light settings for an outdoor environment. 

You can be as much creative as possible with layered lighting. Connect step lights to motion sensors so that stairs would illuminate with every ascent. Or arrange for preset levels of LED landscape lighting in the patio for evening festivities.  

Why LED landscape lighting is a good choice for outdoors? 

Switch to LED landscape lighting as they are less expensive compared to traditional light bulbs. An LED lighting system can have a lifespan of 25,000 hours or more. LED lights require less maintenance and can survive years of use.  

You will save a lot of money in the long run if you switch to LED landscape lighting. Although the upfront expenses are more, LED lights are more energy-efficient in the long run. You will notice a reduction in your energy bills by more than 80% once you install them.  

Both halogen bulbs and incandescent lights produce a lot of heat. On any property, this can enhance the risk of fire if there are inflammable products or dry leaves. In case of LED lighting system, the amount of wasted heat will be less. To conserve more energy, you can also switch to solar landscape lighting, if only your property receives a fair amount of sunlight. 

Why not increase your property’s green appeal by making an intelligent switch to sustainable LED lights? By installing LED lights, you are directly contributing to the energy conservation movement. As LED lights are known for their potential to save more energy, they are environment friendly. Unlike traditional lights which have filaments, LED lights have a solid structure which can not only withstand shock, but do not damage easily. 

Pro tip for the homeowners: 

• Have an extra-large tree in your property which deserves special treatment? 
• Combine the spotlight and moonlight effect by putting two spotlights halfway through the trunk.  
• Aim one light up and the other light down to create a diverse effect.  

• The foliage will hide the light sources beautifully, but the illumination will create a dramatic effect. 
• Hire an AATB expert to know more about LED landscape lighting. 

The post Add Value to Homes with 11 Types of LED Landscape Lighting appeared first on All American Turf Beauty, Inc..