Looking for an easy, inexpensive way to light up your yard’s hardscape? I partnered with Jasco Products to install beautiful pathway landscape lighting with one of Jasco’s new Enbrighten Landscape Lighting kits and it looks amazing!
Two years ago I moved into my new build, cottage-style home. My house is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, but the unfinished backyard? Not so much…
It didn’t take long to figure out that landscaping an entire backyard, even one as small as mine, was going to require some thoughtful planning. One of my main goals was to create a space for entertaining, particularly in the evenings. Since there was only one small light hardwired to the back of the house, landscape lighting around the patio and along the pathways in the yard would be an absolute must-have. I considered everything from professionally installed lighting to low-voltage DIY lighting kits and inexpensive solar lamps.
A professionally installed landscape lighting system starts around $2000, but Jasco Products new Enbrighten Landscape Lighting is available at Sam’s Club locations, and online, for a fraction (about 1/10) of the price.
DIY Pathway Landscape Lighting
Low-voltage lighting is a great option for DIY’ers who want to add a little wow to their landscape. There are a variety of solutions at several price points and installation skill levels. Since I am doing this project on my own, my top priority was finding something easy to install. I was able to install my Jasco Enbrighten LED Color Changing Landscape Lights by myself in under three hours.
Everything you need (outside of basic tools, like a shovel and drill) to install your own pathway landscape lighting is included in the Jasco box.
Start With a Landscape Lighting Plan
Prior to purchasing a lighting kit create a detailed plan, with measurements, and decide what exterior areas/objects you want to highlight. You might take a flashlight outside at night to mimic the effect installing lighting would have in each area. Use your measurements to determine how much cable you will need.
The Jasco Enbrighten LED Color Changing Landscape Lights are available in three different lengths:
- 50 feet (six pucks)
- 80 feet (9 pucks)
- 110 feet (12 pucks)
Each set of lights is designed with 10 feet between each light. You can easily spread them all the way out or create a more steady stream of light (like I have) by placing them close together. I used two of the 50 foot long landscape light strands.
Locate the Power Source
Most low-voltage light kits will plug directly into a standard outlet, so find a GCFI outlet near the installation site and place the power pack nearby. Wait to plug the lights into the power source until the system is fully assembled and installed.
The power pack on the Jasco Enbrighten LED Color Changing Landscape Lights is designed so it can easily be attached to the house or a post.
Place Your Components
Place the lights in position according to your plan.
Install Pathway Landscape Lighting
Jasco Enbrighten LED Color Changing Landscape Lights are wired with burial grade cable that holds up outdoors year round. I dug a narrow trench (about three inches deep) along the cable path, secured the lighting with the stakes that were included and covered the cable lightly.
If you’re looking for a slightly less permanent solution, you could simply run the cables along the ground, tucking them behind plantings and covering them lightly with a little mulch.
Using DIY Pathway Landscape Lighting
The lights I installed are bright enough that they actually illuminate much of the yard, but I am planning to install another set around the house.
Truthfully, I love them so much I kind of want to install them everywhere! The lights are designed to accommodate multiple mounting options for up or down lighting in flower beds, gardens, walkways, decks, eaves, etc.
The remote-control features help to control and customize the lights for your individual space. The options include dimming, countdown timers, a variety of colors (up to 16 single colors or any two color options) and three types of white lights (daylight, warm light and soft white).
I think I will use white lighting as the default, but you’d better believe I am going to be utilizing the red, white and blue this summer. Honestly, the deep blue tinted light provides a little bit of a moonlight mood lighting.
My neighbors loved the Jasco Enbrighten Cafe Lighting on my front porch I installed for my neighborhood tailgate lighting so much, I can’t wait to dazzle them with these new landscape lights!
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