Illuminate Your Outdoor Space: Expert Landscape Lighting by Scott Anderson Landscaping
When the sun sets on your beautiful landscape, why let the beauty disappear into darkness? With expertly designed landscape lighting, you can transform your outdoor spaces into a warm, inviting nighttime retreat while increasing safety, security, and property value. At Scott Anderson Landscaping, we specialize in bringing light to your landscape with professional design, installation, and maintenance services tailored to each unique property.
We recently completed a stunning lighting installation in Sonoma, showcasing just how transformative and functional great landscape lighting can be. Whether you’re considering adding lighting to your property for the first time or looking to upgrade your current system, this blog will cover everything you need to know about landscape lighting — including placement, wiring, lighting types, automation, energy efficiency, and design strategy.
Why Landscape Lighting Matters
Landscape lighting isn’t just about aesthetics — although that’s certainly a major perk. It’s about creating ambiance, increasing visibility, enhancing safety, and adding usable outdoor space after dark. Whether it’s lighting up a walkway, highlighting architectural features, or showcasing your favorite trees, professionally installed lighting systems serve multiple functions:
Safety: Illuminate walkways, stairs, and uneven surfaces to prevent accidents.
Security: Discourage trespassers and increase your home’s visibility at night.
Curb Appeal: Add dramatic elegance and increase your property’s nighttime beauty.
Usability: Extend the function of patios, decks, and gardens into the evening hours.
Lighting Placement: Where Should Landscape Lighting Go?
One of the first questions homeowners ask is: “Where should we put lights?”
At Scott Anderson Landscaping, we start every lighting project with a thorough site walkthrough to evaluate which areas of your landscape will benefit most from proper illumination. Common lighting zones include:
1. Pathways and Walkways
Ensuring safe travel from the driveway to the front door (and throughout your landscape) is a top priority. Path lights are spaced strategically — typically every 5-8 feet — to provide consistent, glare-free illumination without overpowering the natural ambiance.
2. Entryways and Driveways
A well-lit entry creates a welcoming first impression and improves security. We often use wall-mounted sconces, uplighting on nearby trees, or flush-mounted lights along driveways to guide guests safely to your home.
3. Trees and Focal Points
Uplighting tall trees with directional spotlights can add drama and vertical interest. Ornamental trees, sculptures, or fountains benefit from accent lighting to create a beautiful focal point.
4. Outdoor Living Areas
Patios, decks, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens are brought to life at night with soft ambient lighting and task lighting. We often incorporate a mix of overhead lighting and subtle fixtures to balance visibility with mood.
5. Architectural Highlights
Your home’s features — like columns, stonework, or facades — deserve attention too. We use low-profile uplighting or grazing techniques to enhance textures and shapes.
6. Garden Beds
Low-voltage fixtures placed among flowers and shrubs provide soft, scattered light that makes plant textures and colors pop after dark.
Types of Landscape Lighting Fixtures
There are dozens of outdoor lighting fixture types, and at Scott Anderson Landscaping, we help you select the right one for each location and purpose. Here are some of the most common:
Path Lights: Mounted on short posts to light walkways.
Spotlights: Bright, focused lights to highlight trees or architectural features.
Well Lights: Recessed into the ground to uplight without visible fixtures.
Flood Lights: Wide-beam lights for general coverage or security.
Step Lights: Built into steps or walls for safe footing.
String Lights: Add charm to patios or pergolas.
Wall Washers: Spread even light across walls and vertical surfaces.
Wiring and Installation: How It All Works
One of the most important (and overlooked) parts of landscape lighting is the wiring and power source. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how we handle installations at Scott Anderson Landscaping:
1. Low Voltage vs. Line Voltage
Most modern outdoor lighting is low-voltage (12 volts), which is energy-efficient and safe for residential applications. This system requires a transformer to convert your home’s 120V power down to 12V.
Line voltage (120 volts) is used for commercial or high-power lighting, but it requires deeper trenching and professional electrical permits.
We almost always recommend low-voltage lighting for its flexibility, safety, and cost savings.
2. Wiring Layout
Our expert team maps out a detailed wiring diagram, making sure cable runs are efficient and protected. We use weather-resistant connectors, bury wiring to the correct depth (typically 6 inches), and ensure everything is up to code.
3. Smart Layout = Easy Maintenance
We always plan for the long term. Our installations are designed for easy future expansion or bulb replacement without tearing up your entire yard.
Lighting Control and Schedules
With the right control system, managing your landscape lighting is effortless.
1. Manual Timers
Basic systems include a timer that turns lights on/off at set hours. It’s a simple way to automate your lighting based on your schedule.
2. Photo Sensors
Light sensors automatically turn your system on at dusk and off at dawn, keeping your landscape perfectly lit without wasting energy.
3. Smart Controls
We offer Wi-Fi enabled controllers that integrate with your smartphone or smart home system. Easily adjust brightness, create custom zones, or turn lights off while you’re away — all from your phone.
Many of our clients in Sonoma now use smart lighting systems for both security and convenience. We highly recommend integrating lighting into your broader smart home setup for maximum efficiency.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Modern outdoor lighting is about more than just beauty — it’s about performance and environmental responsibility. At Scott Anderson Landscaping Lighting, we stay at the forefront of technology to offer the most sustainable options available.
1. LED Fixtures
We exclusively install LED lighting for its unbeatable efficiency, longevity, and brightness. Compared to traditional halogen bulbs, LED uses up to 80% less energy and lasts 10-20 times longer.
2. Solar Lighting
For specific zones, we also offer solar-powered lighting, especially in areas with consistent sun exposure. These fixtures store energy during the day and light up automatically at night. They're best for accent lighting, not high-output applications.
3. Low Impact Installation
We take pride in installing lighting systems with minimal disturbance to existing landscaping. Our clean, careful methods mean your garden stays intact and beautiful during and after the project.
Custom Design for Every Property
No two properties are the same — and neither are their lighting needs. Our design team works closely with every client to understand their goals, budget, and aesthetic. Whether you want dramatic accents or subtle elegance, we create custom lighting plans to match.
The lighting job we just completed in Sonoma is a perfect example. We used a mix of pathway lighting, uplights for mature olive trees, and accent lights on a newly built retaining wall. The result? A timeless, romantic glow that elevates the entire property at night — and the homeowners couldn't be happier.
Maintenance and Upkeep
A professionally installed lighting system should require minimal upkeep, but occasional maintenance keeps everything running smoothly. At Scott Anderson Landscaping, we offer lighting maintenance services including:
Bulb replacement (for non-LED legacy systems)
Lens cleaning to remove dirt and debris
Wire inspections to ensure proper connections
Timer/sensor reprogramming
Fixture adjustments as trees and shrubs grow
We recommend checking your system twice a year — once in the spring and again before winter.
Why Choose Scott Anderson Landscaping for Your Lighting Needs?
We’ve been transforming outdoor spaces since 2001, offering premium landscaping and lighting services to clients throughout Sonoma, Napa Valley, and beyond. What sets Scott Anderson Landscaping apart?
20+ years of experience
Expert, clean installation
Custom design for every space
Top-tier materials and LED technology
Ongoing support and maintenance
Local reputation you can trust
Lighting isn’t an afterthought — it’s a core part of the design process. That’s why we integrate lighting into our full-service landscape construction and maintenance offerings. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating your existing system, we're ready to help.