Ponds are a wonderful thing to have in the garden and there is nothing better than sitting in the sun whilst there is water in the background. The soothing sound of water and nature cannot be matched. However, what happens once it starts to get dark and cooler? You head inside but you can still enjoy the tranquillity of your pond using some clever lighting techniques.
Pond lighting should be an important part of your pond planning in order to maximise the enjoyment you can get from it. Different types of pond lighting are available from a variety of sources over the internet such as Swell UK in the UK. Pond lights come in a variety of different shapes and sizes; from single lights to multiple-bulbed, from electric to solar-powered and from pond edging to floating lights.
Any configuration of the above set of lights is perfect for illuminating your pond. Flipping your lights on can in fact seem like you’ve created a second water garden for yourself. There’s a whole new exciting world especially when you’ve turned on your submersible lights. There is nothing like watching the fish illuminated in the water whilst sitting back in the dark.
Of course if you haven’t got lights yet for your pond – do not fear! There is still plenty of time to create your second tranquil night-time piece of paradise. If like me, you are not a qualified electrician, then a low or 12 voltage system is best to start off with. These usually consist of a transformer, timer, wiring and mounts. Obviously you will not want to overdo the lights – you are not trying to outdo Las Vegas – and generally speaking less is more. The basic principle is to mimic natural moonlight on the water and to maybe highlight a few features of your pond.
Around the pond there is a huge variety of lights to choose from. Lights come in many shapes and sizes and also offer a different type of light. Some are bright white; some are a more muted yellow colour and others come in red and green for specific effects. There are even lights to place behind a waterfall if you want to make a more dramatic effect. Of course your pond lights can also extend onto any decking or surrounding garden if you so wish.
For inside your pond it is best to use submersible lights. These are waterproofed to protect the electrical components to prevent your fish and other wildlife from being electrocuted. It is important to make sure the lights are properly fitted from your power source to your pond as well, and to also make sure you know where the cables are – you do not want to dig through them when re-designing your garden in the future.
By Chris Plum, Pond and Aquatics Specialist
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