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In your garden or entry area, an in ground light can add something special to your home’s exterior. In ground landscape lights not only help improve the appearance of the area but also provide heightened levels of safety. Below, we will explore in ground lighting as well as how to incorporate it into your own space.
What Are LED Ground Lights?
LED uplights are a type of outdoor lighting that is installed right into the ground. Available in the form of recessed ground lights or ground-mounted lights, in ground uplights can be made from various materials from plastic to metal. Their main focus is to wash light over a larger area of space, and they can be used to accent gardens, driveways, pathways and other areas of interest in an outdoor space.
How To Use In Ground LED Lights Around the Garden
In ground lighting is versatile in its ability to be installed all around the garden. Below, we’ll explore some ways to incorporate in ground landscape lights around your garden.
You Can Use Them To:
- Shine upward on the exterior of your home or any garden walls
- Shine upward on trees to highlight them
- Highlight any shrubs, statues or other ornamental features
- Light up the posts of any structure in a garden, such as a pergola
- Highlight plants by placing them on either side of the botanicals
- Create a well-lit deck area
- Illuminate the steps of a deck or porch
You Can Choose:
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- GARDEN BOLLARD LIGHTS. These lights sit lower to the ground and typically have a post design. They tend to look like mini streetlights and are best used in larger outdoor spaces such as gardens. These types of lights shine illumination at a 360-degree angle.
- GARDEN SPIKE LIGHTS. Similar to bollard lights, garden spike lights are a type of in ground garden lights. As their name suggests, they feature spiked tops instead of flat tops like bollards.
- RECESSED LIGHTING. Underground lights such as recessed lighting is a way to use in ground LED lights to modernise your outdoor space. These sit flush with the ground and tend to be round or square in shape. Their design makes them good for outlining the perimeter of a deck, patio or pathway.
How To Install LED In Ground Uplights
Though it is recommended that you get a professional electrician to install in ground spotlights, you can do it yourself. Below, you can learn how to do this in a few simple steps:
- Turn the power off. Switch off the power at the mains before you mess with any wires, circuits or other electrical elements.
- Clear the area. Ensure there is no clutter around the area where you want to work. This will prevent tripping hazards while also sparing your ground spotlights dirt and dust.
- Avoid water. Similarly, ensure that the ground does not get submerged underwater at any point during the installation of outdoor ground lighting.
- Find the right place. Choose where you want to install the ground lights and then mark them. Keep the power supply in mind and how you plan to supply it to the fixtures. Then, you can plan the positioning of the lights.
- Dig the holes. Whether you need a little space for bollard lights or a larger area for recessed lights, you can begin to remove the earth for the garden ground lights. Use this opportunity to ensure the wires can run through the ground and up into the light.
- Install the cable. Using conduit tubing, you can protect electrical wires while threading the wires of the fixture into the ground. Once the tubing is in place, you can insert the ground lights.
- Backfill the holes. After the light has been fitted, you can fill the holes using eight inches of pea gravel to allow for drainage to take place.
Why It Is Important to Buy the Best Quality In Ground Lights
In ground lighting is constantly exposed to the elements. From moisture to extreme temperatures, they can take a beating if they are not well made. Buying quality fixtures with a proper IP rating can prevent damage from befalling the lights. Lights with premium materials can also eliminate the risk of cracking and breaking, thereby preventing the need to constantly be replacing the lights.
Why LED Underground Lights Are the Best Choice
Recessed ground lights are rising in popularity for many reasons. These types of lights feature many benefits that are making them the preferred fixtures for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
- With the ability to choose both the colour temperature and the brightness level, you remain in control of the appearance of the illumination itself.
- LONG LASTING LIFE. LED bulbs tend to have a minimum of 20,000 hours of life as opposed to the 1,000 hours that traditional bulbs have to offer.
- LOWER COST. By not having to replace lights after every 1,000 hours of use, you can save money on replacements and maintenance. They are also energy efficient, which can positively impact your energy bill.
- BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. The energy efficient nature of LED lights may help reduce your carbon footprint. They output most of their energy as light, whereas traditional bulbs tend to output more of it as heat.
- IMPROVED SAFETY. Since the lights are close to the ground, you don’t want to accidentally brush up against a hot light. The nearly non-existent heat output of LED lights increases your safety in this way by remaining cool.
What IP Rating Should LED Ground Lights Be?
Since outdoor lights are constantly exposed to the elements, you need to make sure they are protected against them. One way to do this is by choosing the proper IP rating for the lights.
An IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, can tell you how well protected a light is against moisture and debris. The first digit of the IP rating will tell you how well protected the fixture is from solid objects. Using the second digit, you can learn how well protected it is against moisture.
First Digit – Solid Objects
0  –  No protection from solid objects.
1  –  Protection against solid objects that are bigger than 50 millimetres.
2 –  Protection against solid objects that are bigger than 12.5 millimetres.
3  –  Protection against solid objects that are bigger than 2.5 millimetres.
4  –  Protection against solid objects that are bigger than 1 millimetre.
5 –  Dust Protected protects a light against almost all dust entry.
6  –  Dust Tight protects a light against all dust entry.
Second Digit – Moisture
0  –  No Protection against moisture.
1  –  Protects against water that is dripping vertically.
2  –  Protects against water that is dripping vertically when the fixture is at a 15-degree tilt.
3  –  Protects against water that is spraying vertically when the fixture is at a 60-degree tilt.
4 –  Protects against water splashing on it from any direction.
5  –  Protects against jets of light water from any direction.
6  –  Protects against jets of strong water from any direction.
7  –  Protects against immersion of the fixture up to 1 metre.
8  –  Protects against immersion of the fixture at depths greater than 1 metre.
Ideas For In Ground Lights
The ODL028 6 Watt 316 Stainless Steel Recessed LED Ground Light is a beautiful choice for those who prefer recessed lighting. This style of light sits flush with the ground, exposing only a ring of 316 stainless steel. The light is fashioned out of aluminium and has a protective IP67 rating. It shines 430 lumens of 3200k warm white light.
Small in size, the ODL047 1 Watt Round Brass Finish LED Ground or Decking Light is a great choice for adding lights to your deck. Multiple lights can be placed around the perimeter of the deck or throughout it for a modern look. The product features a polished brass finish for style and has an IP67 rating for protection. It outputs 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light.
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ODL047A 1 Watt Square Brass Finish LED Ground or Decking Light
With the ODL047A 1 Watt Square Brass Finish LED Ground or Decking Light, you can instantly add modern charm to your deck. This recessed fixture has a golden-toned finish and a square-shaped top that sticks out on the top of the deck. The polished brass fitting has an IP67 rating and plays host to a 70-lumen bulb. It shines 3000k warm white light.
With the ODL029 9 Watt 316 Stainless Steel Recessed LED Ground Light, you can beautifully light up pathways. This recessed light will sit flush with the ground level, outputting 800 lumens of 300k warm white light from its 316 stainless steel exterior. The light carries an IP67 rating for outdoor use.
Finish off your outdoor pathways with the help of the ultra-modern ODL030 12 Watt 316 Stainless Steel Recessed LED Ground Light. This sleek ground light is recessed into the ground, showing only a ring of its 316 stainless steel exterior around the bulb. The light shines 900 lumens of 3000k warm white light and is best suited for larger outdoor areas. Its IP67 rating protects it against the elements.