Weatherproof Garden Lighting for Your Scottish Garden

When you are gardening in Scotland, the weather can be adversarial. You can follow planting strategies like planting windbreaks to protect your garden, using raised beds to promote drainage, and customising your planting to match the conditions of your specific garden. Choosing the right hardscaping and employing proper draining techniques can help keep your garden dry, but what about your outdoor lighting?

The Impact of Lighting on Garden Design

You might not give much thought to lighting when thinking of your garden plans, but in truth, lighting can elevate an outdoor space in an extraordinary way. The right lighting improves the functionality and safety of your landscape while also enhancing its visual appeal. You can use lighting to illuminate pathways, create a cosy ambiance, or highlight focal features of your garden and architecture. In order to optimise your lighting, though, you will need to choose options that will fare well in any weather conditions that your garden is likely to endure. 

Choosing Weatherproof Garden Lighting

While lighting can dramatically enhance a garden, it is vital to be careful with the outdoor lighting you choose in a rainy climate. 

• The first step is to look at the IP rating. The international protection rating can provide you with valuable information as to which kinds of lights to use outdoors. If you are installing wall lighting that’s protected by a roof extension, IP44 rated light fittings may be sufficient. However, a better option is IP65 or IP67 rated lights, which are waterproofed and sealed against dust and water.
• Always choose rainproof garden lights. Whether you are lighting a pathway, illuminating an entrance, or shed light on a focal point in your garden, rainproof lights are a must. With fixtures that are completely IP65 rated or higher, water will not reach the electrical circuit. You can also use waterproof LED deck lights and LED step lights, for discreet light that provides added safety in the dark.
• Typically, outdoor ceiling lights are under cover. This broadens the range of styles you can choose, because you don’t need such a high IP rating. Unless they are likely to come into direct contact with the rain, you can choose outdoor ceiling lights that are IP44 or even IP23. Under the right cover, you can even choose pendant lights.
• Don’t DIY your outdoor lights. The installation of light fittings, whether indoor or outdoor, should always be done by a registered electrician. Whether you need outdoor lights installed or replaced, call an electrician to handle your wall, ceiling, post, ground, spike recessed, or flood lights. An electrician or garden design expert will also be able to advise you on the right kinds of weatherproof outdoor lights for your garden. 

Can Solar Lighting Withstand Wet Weather? 

Solar garden lights are energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and self-powered, needing only sunlight to charge. There are many different styles available, and they look absolutely beautiful in a garden, but can they stand up to the rain? Will rough weather ruin your solar lighting? 

• Choose waterproof solar lights if you live in a wet climate. Many solar lights are water-resistant, which means that they can stand up to rain to a certain degree. In fact, solar lights can benefit from the occasional rainstorm, because the water will wash dirt and dust from the solar panels, leading to better performance. However, water-resistant lights can stand up to heavier than average rainfall, so a major storm can soak them and cause damage. Waterproof lights, on the other hand, prevent water penetration entirely. So, unless your lights are physically damaged, they can tolerate exposure to a significant amount of water.
• Will solar lights work when it’s raining? Solar lights need sun to recharge, so they won’t be as bright on a rainy day. They will still work, but they won’t recharge until the sun comes out again. They will have some power from the sunlight that passes through the clouds, but the clearer the sky, the more efficiently they will function.
• What will winter weather do to your solar garden lights? You may not need to bring your solar lights in during a thunderstorm, but what during the winter? The good news is that solar lights have been engineered to withstand many different types of weather, including the low temperatures of winter. Understanding that most people will leave their outdoor lights outside, solar light manufacturers plan for these scenarios. Does this mean your solar lights are indestructible? Not necessarily. You can leave them outside or bring them in during the winter, and your decision on what to do will depend largely on where you live. In areas with a mild climate, where the winter weather is not extreme, the lights will be fine, even if you leave them in the garden all year. However, if you live in a harsh climate, it may be better to store them during the winter. Being exposed to extreme conditions for an extended period of time can shorten the lifespan of your solar lights by creating wear and tear, damaging the solar panels and batteries. Snow on the lights can cause leaks into the battery terminal, weakening your solar lights rapidly. 

Contact North Hill Gardens for Expert Garden Design

Whenever you need help with your garden, whether you want to completely transform it or you just need seasonal help with maintenance, trust North Hill Gardens to bring out its full potential. Our mission is to create beautiful, sustainable, and functional gardens, and we believe that every garden can be an exquisite, tranquil sanctuary that brings joy and inspiration to the world. Our team of enthusiastic, skilled garden designers, landscapers, and horticulture experts has been serving communities in the UK for many years. We work closely with our clients and strive to tailor each project to match their unique vision, in a way that is both creative and practical. Whatever you envision, our goal is to use our wealth of knowledge and passion for gardening to help bring it to life in your garden. Whether you are seeking landscaping, garden design, or maintenance, contact us to find out how our experienced team can help.