An uplit tree can be one of the most dramatic features of any garden. It can bring beautiful color and depth to a garden, making your backyard beautiful long after the sun has gone down. However, it can be a tricky technique to master.
Uplighting a tree is very different to the soft, diffuse lighting you need to light a garden path . Done badly, you can make your backyard look barren and stark. I spoke to lighting experts for their tips and tricks.
They gave me all you need to know about uplighting different sizes and species of tree. 1. Where to place your lights The first step is to work out where to place your lights.
Firstly, work out your vantage point. Have the light shine on the tree in the direction you want to see it, either from the house, street, or backyard. The exact placement for your light varies by the tree, but expert lighting designer Nels Peterson gave me an easy rule to follow.
He said: 'When I place a fixture, I always try to have it at least 18 to 24 inches away from the tree itself and let the light escape.' There are a couple of reasons why Nels recommends this distance. 'Too many times fixtures are so close to the tree that it's really just an accent and isn't lighting much more than the very bottom of the tree,' he says.
'One of my trademarked sayings is "light requires distance".' Nels Peterson is a lighting industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. Nels is a Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer through the Association of Outdoor Lighting Pr.