Horticultural knowledge is very important with landscape lighting Design

Horticultural knowledge is very important with landscape lighting Design

by Mike Gambino

I have often stated here on this blog that if you are considering a landscape lighting pro to design and install a landscape lighting system, you should immediately disqualify and reject anyone who doesn’t offer maintenance service on their systems.

Since most of what we light outdoors is live plant material, the same can be said for those who do not readily recognize tree and plant species, what their unique characteristics are and how they grow.

In other words, in my opinion someone who is designing and installing landscape lighting is at an extreme disadvantage if they do not have this crucial knowledge and experience with greenery and living growing plant materials.

How are you going to know where to place the light sources if you don’t know how fast the plant or tree grows?

How do you determine what approach you will take when you don’t know what shape or form a plant species will be in 5-10-15 or 20 years into the future?

How are you going to know where to place the light source to optimize the lighting effect without the fixure itself becoming a high maintenance nightmare?

Plants and trees that lose their leaves in the fall and remain barren during the winter require different consideration than those that don’t. Light sources concealed by dense plant leaves during mild weather will become glare bombs when exposed in colder weather.

Landscape lighting professionals not only need to be technically proficient in regards to electricity but they also need to have more than a passing interest and knowledge of horticulture.

If a candidate uses general terms to describe the plant material that he or she has plans of highlighting in your yard after dark then that is a pretty good indicator and its safe to assume that he or she doesn’t know the name or species of the plant  or tree. And if that’s the case then they probably are not familiar with their specific and unique characteristics.

If that is the case then buyer beware as you have just realized that you are dealing with someone who is a landscape and horticultural novice.

It can also be an indicator that the individual lacks the passion and diligence necessary to become knowledgeable and proficient in all aspects of their profession.

Knowledge, experience and understanding of plant species is very important when determining from which position and vantage points to illuminate from

This landscape lighting blog is published by Mike Gambino of Gambino landscape lighting inc. all rights reserved. Mike is a professional landscape lighting system designer/ builder and has been designing, installing and maintaining landscape lighting systems for more than 20 years. Mike resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and 2 sons. To visit his website go to www.gambinolighting.com . To inquire about hiring Mike please click here .

Blog articles may be published with permission on other websites without editing or removing links.

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