Blog

If you want your garden to feel calm, safe, and inviting after dark, a local Des Moines electrician can help you plan and install lighting that fits your plants, your yard, and your daily routine. They handle the wiring, the safety details, and the practical layout, so your paths, beds, and seating areas glow instead of disappear into the dark.

Why garden lighting is worth the effort

I think garden lighting is one of those things people postpone for years. The yard looks fine during the day, so it feels less urgent. Then you step outside one fall evening, and it hits you. You cannot see the path, the steps feel risky, and that nice new maple is just a shadow.

Good outdoor lighting changes that in a quiet way. It does not need to look dramatic. In fact, it usually should not. It just helps you:

• See where you are walking
• Enjoy your plants after sunset
• Use your patio or deck more often
• Feel safer when you get home late

A simple set of low fixtures along a path can double the amount of time you feel comfortable using your garden.

There is a technical side, though. Once you add wires, transformers, and outdoor outlets, you are in electrical code territory. That is where an electrician comes in.

What an electrician actually does for your garden

People sometimes think an electrician just connects wires. That is part of it, but in the garden there is more going on.

They look at the whole yard, not just one light

A good electrician will walk your yard with you. They will look at:

• Where you already have power on the outside walls
• How far the garden areas are from the house
• Low spots where water collects
• Existing hardscape like paths, steps, fences, and patios
• Trees, shrubs, and beds you want to highlight

This walk is usually where you both notice things you did not think about. Maybe your favorite tree is on the back corner of the lot with no power nearby. Maybe your only outdoor outlet is behind a shrub and hard to reach.

They design a basic power plan

The electrician will then figure out how to get safe power where lighting is needed. That often includes:

• Adding or upgrading outdoor outlets
• Installing a dedicated circuit for garden and landscape lighting
• Choosing between low voltage and line voltage systems
• Planning where transformers will go
• Routing cable so it is protected and mostly hidden

Outdoor lighting that feels simple on the surface usually has a careful plan hiding underneath it.

You do not always need something complex. In a small yard, one new outlet and a basic low voltage kit might be enough. In a larger garden, you might need several runs and zones.

They keep everything safe and up to code

Water, soil, and electricity are not a friendly mix. Electricians are trained to work around that. They take care of things like:

• Using weather rated junction boxes and covers
• Choosing cables and fixtures rated for burial and moisture
• GFCI protection for outdoor outlets
• Correct wire size for the length of your runs
• Bonding and grounding metal parts where needed

This is the part garden lovers often ignore because it is not visible. Until something trips the breaker or shocks someone, which is not how you want to learn about electrical rules.

Types of garden lighting an electrician can help with

Once the basic power plan is set, you can talk about what you actually want to see at night. The fixtures matter less than the effect, at least in my opinion.

Path and step lighting

Path lights and step lights are usually the first things people think about. They help you walk without guessing where the edges are.

Light type	Typical use	Pros	Things to watch
Low path lights	Along walkways, driveways, garden paths	Soft light, easy to tuck into plantings	Can glare if too tall or too bright
Recessed step lights	Stair risers, deck steps, retaining walls	Very clean look, safe for feet	Harder to retrofit into existing masonry
Post or bollard lights	Entry paths, transitions, driveway edges	More visible, helpful in snow or tall plants	Can feel too bright if overused

An electrician can help you place these so you do not end up with bright spots every few feet. A calm path usually comes from lower wattage, more spacing, and careful aiming.

Accent lighting for plants and features

If you love your trees, shrubs, or a small water feature, accent lighting can make them stand out after dusk.

• Uplights at the base of trees
• Small spotlights aimed at shrubs or sculptures
• Wall wash lights for fences or textured walls

This type of lighting is easy to overdo. I remember visiting a yard where every shrub was lit. It felt crowded and harsh. When the electrician came back, they turned off about half the fixtures and changed a few angles. The garden suddenly felt larger and calmer.

You usually do not need to light every plant; one or two strong focal points are enough for most gardens.

An electrician can help you choose the right beam angles and wattage so you get a gentle glow instead of a harsh spotlight.

Decks, patios, and seating areas

Most gardens have at least one place to sit. Lighting that area well can make it your favorite evening spot.

Common choices include:

• Under rail lights along deck railings
• Recessed lights in deck boards or pavers
• Wall sconces on the house or garden walls
• String lights on a switch or timer

String lights are a bit of a trend. They can look nice, but I think they work best when combined with softer, more permanent lighting. An electrician can add switched outlets high on walls or posts so you can plug in string lights without extension cords hanging everywhere.

Security and entry lighting

Security lights are usually brighter and less subtle, but they can still work with your garden, not against it.

• Motion lights at side yards and gates
• Soft but steady lighting at main entrances
• Garage lighting that does not spill into neighbors yards

An electrician can help you set up motion sensors, timers, and photocells so the lights come on when needed and stay off when they are not. That way, your garden still feels like a garden, not a parking lot.

Low voltage vs standard voltage in the garden

This is one of the first choices you will face. Do you use low voltage (often 12 volt) systems, regular 120 volt fixtures, or a mix of both?

Low voltage lighting

Most modern landscape lighting is low voltage. It uses a transformer to step down the power from the house. Then cable runs through the yard to feed the fixtures.

Low voltage is popular for gardens because:

• It is safer around kids and pets
• Cables can be buried shallowly, which is easier on existing plantings
• Fixtures are usually smaller, which fits most beds and borders
• LED options keep energy use low

An electrician can size the transformer, run the cable, and set up zones so you do not have dim fixtures at the end of long runs. That dimming is a common problem when people install things themselves and guess the wire gauge or transformer size.

Standard 120 volt lighting

Some parts of the garden call for regular line voltage. That might include:

• Wall lights mounted on the house or garage
• Post lights at driveways or long paths
• Security flood lights

These fixtures need proper junction boxes, conduit in some cases, and code compliant connections. An electrician takes care of that. Then you can focus on choosing the style you like.

Planning your garden lighting with an electrician

If you enjoy gardens and parks, you probably pay attention to how light falls on leaves, paths, and water. You already think like a designer in a way. The electrician brings in the technical side.

Walk your garden at different times

Before you talk to an electrician, it can help to walk outside at dusk, dark, and early morning. Notice:

• Where you feel unsure of your footing
• Plants that still catch your eye when they are just silhouettes
• Spots where you want to sit but never do after dark
• Dark corners that feel unsafe or forgotten

You can even mark a few spots with flags or small stakes. I sometimes use old plant labels. It sounds a bit fussy, but it helps later when you explain what you want.

Make a simple sketch

You do not need a perfect drawing. A rough plan can be enough. Show:

• The house outline
• Major paths and patios
• Big trees and planted areas
• Existing outdoor outlets and lights

Then mark where you would like lights. Not exact positions, just zones. For example, “soft light under the crabapple” or “safe light on these steps”. This lets the electrician understand your priorities quickly.

Talk about how you use the garden

Lighting should match your habits, not some textbook ideal. Be honest about how you live.

• Do you often come home after dark?
• Do you have kids running around?
• Do you host gatherings outside, or is it just quiet evenings?
• Do you garden at night in summer to avoid heat?

If you never sit on the back patio, there is no point in spending a lot of money lighting it. Maybe the money is better spent on safer access, like steps and side paths.

How lighting affects plants and wildlife

Garden lovers often worry that lighting will disturb plants or wildlife. It can, if done without care. With some thought, you can reduce those problems.

Impact on plant growth

Most garden lighting uses LEDs that are not bright enough to confuse plants in a major way, especially when aimed at the ground. Still, strong uplighting on certain trees can disturb their natural rest period if used all night.

If you have trees or shrubs you are worried about, ask the electrician to:

• Use timers so accent lights turn off late at night
• Aim lights along the ground instead of into the canopy
• Use lower output fixtures where possible

I have seen gardens where accent lights run all night all year. The trees survive, but it feels a bit harsh. A shutoff time around midnight can be a good balance.

Wildlife and insect concerns

Bright lights can disrupt insects, birds, and small animals. If you care about moths, bats, and pollinators, you might want to keep lighting gentle and targeted.

Ideas to reduce disturbance:

• Use warmer color temperatures (around 2700K) instead of very cool white
• Avoid fully lighting lawns or large open areas
• Place fixtures so they do not shine into trees where birds roost
• Use motion sensors in less used areas

Garden lighting works best when it supports how you live outside without turning the yard into a stage.

An electrician who often works on residential yards will likely have seen different approaches and can suggest what has worked well for other clients.

Common mistakes with garden lighting

It might help to look at what often goes wrong so you can avoid repeating those patterns.

Too much brightness

This is probably the most common problem. Someone is worried about safety, so they choose very bright fixtures. The result is glare. Your eyes struggle to adjust, and dark areas feel darker by comparison.

Better to choose lower light levels, more fixtures, and careful placement. Electricians can calculate loads and suggest appropriate fixture types and spacing.

Glare in your own windows

People often forget to check how the yard lights look from inside the house. That can be annoying. A bright path light shining straight into your living room will make you close the curtains, which defeats the point of enjoying the garden view at night.

Ask your electrician to test fixtures with you while someone stands inside and checks the view. Small adjustments in angle can fix a lot of problems.

Trip hazards from cables and fixtures

Temporary or DIY projects sometimes leave loose wires, stakes, or solar lights in spots where feet, mowers, and pets will hit them. A professional will bury cables to the correct depth and choose fixtures that survive normal garden life.

Forgetting maintenance

Even good lighting needs a bit of care:

• Cleaning lenses so dirt and algae do not block light
• Trimming plants that grow over fixtures
• Checking connections after hard winters or heavy rains

Ask your electrician about maintenance. Some will offer seasonal checkups, or at least explain what you should look for once a year.

Energy use and smart controls

Garden lovers often worry about the energy cost of lighting. With LED fixtures and basic controls, the impact can be smaller than many people think.

LEDs and transformers

Most low voltage systems now use LED fixtures. They use far less power than older halogen or incandescent bulbs and run cooler, which is safer around plants and mulch.

An electrician will choose a transformer that matches the total load with some room left. Too small and lights dim or fail. Too large and you waste money upfront and on standby power.

Timers, photocells, and smart switches

Controls make a big difference in both comfort and cost. Typical options include:

• Simple mechanical timers that turn lights on and off each day
• Digital timers that adjust for seasons and daylight changes
• Photocells that turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn
• Smart switches or plugs that you can control with your phone

If you like to keep things simple, a photocell plus a basic timer often works well. Lights come on at dusk, then turn off at a set time later in the evening.

Working with an electrician without losing your garden vision

One worry some garden people have is that a contractor will come in and treat their plants like objects. It can happen, but you can set the tone of the project.

Mark plants that must not be disturbed

Before work starts, walk the yard and clearly mark:

• Rare plants
• Young trees and shrubs with delicate roots
• Areas with bulbs near the soil surface

Use small flags, stakes, or even bright string. Tell the electrician and crew that those spots are off limits for trenching if possible. Often they can route cables around sensitive areas or go under paths instead.

Ask for test placements

Request that some fixtures be tested at night before final positions are fixed. Many electricians are used to this. You can:

• Look at how light hits specific plants
• Adjust the angle or distance of spotlights
• Decide if any fixtures feel unnecessary

It might feel a bit picky, but this small test can prevent long term annoyance.

Discuss future changes in the garden

Gardens are not static. Plants grow, beds expand, and paths shift. Tell the electrician if you plan to:

• Add a pergola or seating area later
• Plant new trees that will get large
• Extend vegetable beds or raised planters

They can leave spare capacity in circuits or run conduit to future locations. That way you do not have to tear up your yard again in a couple of years.

Costs, budgeting, and where to save or spend

Money is part of every project, so it makes sense to think openly about where it is worth spending more and where you can stay modest.

Where spending more often pays off

• Underground wiring and connections, since problems here are hard to fix later
• Good quality transformers and control gear
• Durable fixtures in high traffic areas like paths and steps

Quality here tends to reduce future headaches. Cheap components outside can corrode or fail quickly in moisture and freeze thaw cycles.

Where you can stay simple

• Accent fixtures in low risk spots, like against a fence
• Temporary string lighting for seasonal use
• Non structural decorative pieces that can be moved

You can also phase a project. Start with safety and basic structure, then add extras later:

1. Paths, steps, and entry lighting
2. Key focal points like one or two trees
3. Secondary accents and seasonal features

This staged approach works well for gardens because your sense of what you want often changes as you live with the first layer of lighting.

Examples of garden lighting ideas in a city like Des Moines

Every city has its own quirks. In a place with cold winters, warm summers, and plenty of wind, outdoor lighting takes some extra thought.

Front yard with mature trees

Imagine a small front yard with two older maples, a narrow walkway, and a simple porch. A practical plan with an electrician might include:

• Low path lights along one side of the walkway
• Soft uplighting on one maple, leaving the other dark for contrast
• A new wall light at the front door with a motion sensor
• A photocell and timer so lights come on at dusk and turn off later at night

The electrician adds a dedicated circuit for front yard lighting, runs low voltage cable under the lawn in narrow trenches, and mounts the transformer near the main panel in the garage. The family gets a more welcoming entry and a nicer view from the living room.

Backyard with patio and vegetable beds

Now think about a backyard where you have:

• A concrete or paver patio
• Raised vegetable beds
• A privacy fence with some shrubs along it

An electrician might help you set up:

• Recessed step lights at the transition from the house to the patio
• Small downlights under the eaves to wash the fence gently
• One or two spotlights aimed at key shrubs for depth
• A switched outlet high on the wall for optional string lights

The vegetable beds might stay dark, which can be nice. You can walk around them safely but still feel the quiet of a darker area at the back of the garden.

Questions to ask your electrician before starting

If you are not sure where to begin, here are some questions that can guide your first talk with an electrician.

• “Can you walk the yard with me and talk through options before we choose fixtures?”
• “Do you install mostly low voltage, line voltage, or a mix for gardens?”
• “How will you protect cables from frost heave, roots, and routine digging?”
• “What kind of transformers and controls do you usually use?”
• “Can we test the placement of some lights at night before everything is fixed?”
• “How easy will it be to add more fixtures in a couple of years?”
• “What kind of maintenance will this system need each year?”

The way they answer will tell you a lot. If they rush past the part about plants and how you use the garden, you might need to slow them down or look for someone more patient.

One last question and a simple answer

Is garden lighting really worth hiring an electrician, or can I just do it myself with a few kits?

For a very small space, a single plug in kit might be enough, and it can be fun to experiment on your own. Once you want more than a few lights, or anything involving new outlets, buried cable, or motion sensors, bringing in an electrician tends to save time and reduce risk. You keep control over how the garden looks, while they handle the part behind the scenes that keeps everything safe, reliable, and ready for many seasons outside.