How to light a garden or patio in the evening

A few lights turn a garden from a place you walk through into a place you sit in. Here is how to do it without an electrician.

Start with solar

Solar lights need no cable and no socket. Put the panel where it gets direct sun for most of the day, and keep it clear of leaves. On a dull day or in winter the lights will run for a shorter time.

Pick the shape

• Crystal ball strings give a sparkly look along a fence or through a tree.
• Globe bulbs, such as G40, give a warmer, larger glow over a patio or table.
• Copper wire fairy lights are best in jars, round a branch or along a rail.

Check the weather rating

Outdoor lights should say what they can take. A rating of IP65 means the string is built for rain and splashes. Anything that does not say should stay under cover.

Keep the glow low

String lights look best at or just above head height. Too high and they light the sky, too low and they dazzle. Swag them in loose curves, with a fixing every metre or so.

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