All About Adding Outdoor Solar Power Lights To Your Yard

Just because the sun has set doesn’t mean we have to settle for darkness. Outdoor solar power lights can soak up the sun’s energy during the day and convert it to a shining beacon once night comes.

Check out our guide below to understand if they’re ideal for your yard!

How do solar power outdoor lights work?

Without wading too far into the technical specifics, most solar power garden lights are made up of several parts:

• A solar cell
• A battery
• A photoresistor
• An LED light bulb

These individual parts work in harmony to light up gardens, walkways, and other landscape features. The solar cell captures the light and converts it to energy.

The energy is then transferred and stored in the battery for later use. When the photoresistor detects a lack of light, the battery powers the light bulb.

While solar energy is increasing in popularity to power homes or entire neighborhoods and towns, this technology has existed for a while. In fact, solar energy has powered small devices, like a calculator’s battery, for decades.

Yes, this is an oversimplification of how solar power lights work, but getting more detailed would involve discussing photons and electrons. If you would like a more technical breakdown, though, you can find one here.

What are the benefits of outdoor solar power lights?

Whether you associate the color green with the environment or cold hard cash, outdoor solar lights can help you conserve both. When you use solar power, there’s no need to use the energy from your local utility company.

The non-use of your power grid means you’re not relying on energy sources known to harm the environment. And if you’re not using your power grid to power these lights, you’re not paying your utility company every time you flick the light on.

The benefits don’t stop there. Solar power outdoor lights are easy to install and require little to no maintenance.

In most cases, the most you’ll need to do to care for your new garden lights is clean off any dirt or excess moisture every once in a while. Of course, you will also have to change the light bulbs at some point, but most LED solar bulbs can provide up to 20,000 hours of light.

So, when you decide to go with outdoor lights powered by solar energy, you’re helping save the Earth and your wallet.

Are there negatives to installing solar power garden lights?

There are a variety of benefits to installing solar power lights in your garden. However, there are some negatives that you should be aware of, too.

The first negative is cost. Yes, you will save money in the long run, but solar lights can have a high upfront cost.

Additionally, using solar energy to power your lights may lead you to ask what exactly happens when the sun isn’t out that day. In those situations, the brightness of the light may be very low or not there at all.

So, if you need your garden lights to be at their maximum brightness every night, you may be out of luck should you experience a string of overcast days.

Finally, most solar outdoor lights are not very powerful. They can highlight a walking path well enough, but they won’t be as effective a security measure as some other lights.

There can be a trade-off here, though. More powerful solar energy lights exist, but they may only provide a few hours of light before needing to recharge.

Where should you install garden lights with solar power?

So, outdoor solar power lights may not be the perfect tool in every circumstance. However, there are plenty of places and situations where they can add brightness to your landscape.

As mentioned above, solar garden lights work exceptionally well to light a walking path in your yard. You will only need a few lights placed sporadically in a flower bed border to spot any tripping hazards in your way.

Outdoor solar lights can also light parts of your lawn or landscape that are deserving of notice. You can place them up in a tree or at the base of your house.

These lights also work well in shining a spotlight on your trees. Place the lights at ground level behind the tree’s trunks for a dramatic look.

You can also install the lights high up in the tree to cast a wider beam. Placing the lights in front of any foliage or ornamental plant can make it a focal point of your yard.

The options don’t just end there, though. You can place your solar outdoor lights almost anywhere that gets direct sunlight during the day and needs light at night:

• Above a deck
• Along outdoor stairs
• In a flower bed
• Near a water feature

Is it easy to install garden solar power lights?

For the most part, installing solar lights in your garden is incredibly easy. Since there’s no wiring or need to connect it to an external power source, the installation process is almost entirely securing the light’s stake in the ground.

However, there are a few things you should consider before installation. For instance, you’ll want to place them in a place that receives plenty of direct sunlight during the day.

If you’re placing your lights in the ground, you can loosen the dirt first with a bit of water. While you can install the lights in hardened soil, forcing the device into the ground can result in a broken exterior casing.

Some lights may come in a square exterior casing that doesn’t require you to plunge the stake into the soil. In those cases, you can simply put them on the ground where it suits you.

Then, that’s it! Once you place them where you wish, your garden lights will use solar power to begin charging their batteries.

So, does your garden need solar power lights?

While no yard is the same, the benefits of solar power garden lights outweigh the negatives in most situations. That’s especially true if you can afford the upfront cost and want an effective way to light the landscape features or your walkway.

As always, if you’re looking for help with your garden, keep an eye on our blog for articles that offer tips, advice, and methods that will help you tend to the garden of your dreams.