Successfully lighting trees and planting is one of the most effective ways to elevate any outdoor space. Whether you’re creating ambience for a private garden or shaping a larger landscaped project, well-executed tree lighting adds depth, drama and structure throughout the year. Below is a concise guide to the techniques and principles used by professional garden lighting designers, along with recommended fittings suited to each approach.
1. Uplighting: Creating Height, Form and Drama
Uplighting remains the most popular method for showcasing trees because it emphasises height, structure and natural movement. By placing a spotlight at the base of the trunk or slightly offset, the beam grazes upward through the branches, revealing texture and form.
For small to medium trees, compact fittings such as spike-mounted LED spotlights or micro floodlights work exceptionally well. Beam angle options (typically narrow 10–25° or wider 36–60°) allow you to choose the best spread of light for the tree.
Larger or taller trees, however, require significantly more output. As a guide:
- 10–12m trees: approx. 15–25W
- Medium to medium-large trees: Titan 26 (26W) is ideal
- 12m+ or broad-canopy trees: Titan 45 (45W) offers the necessary punch
Smaller fittings usually use MR16 or GU10 lamps, allowing you to select the correct beam angle by choosing the appropriate lamp. Larger fittings achieve different beams through built-in reflectors.
On lightingforgardens.com, the outdoor spike lights and adjustable spotlights categories offer versatile options suitable for year-round exposure.
2. Cross-Lighting: Balanced, Natural Illumination
Cross-lighting uses two or more fittings positioned at different angles—usually opposite sides of the tree—to create gentle, even illumination without harsh shadows. The result is a natural, balanced glow that reveals both trunk and foliage.
This method works especially well for multi-stem trees, Japanese acers, olives and architectural shrubs, where symmetry and detail are key. Adjustable spike spots with medium beam angles (25–36°) provide flexibility as the planting matures.
Opt for warm white LEDs (2700–3000K) to maintain a soft, inviting tone. Many Lighting for Gardens fittings allow you to select the colour temperature that best suits the planting palette.
3. Silhouette Lighting: Highlighting Shape Through Contrast
Silhouette lighting creates dramatic nighttime interest by placing light behind a plant or tree so the feature becomes a shadow against a softly lit vertical surface.
Position a small floodlight or ground spike between the planting and a wall, fence or structure. The reflected light bounces forward, revealing the plant’s outline. Low-output, wide-beam fixtures are ideal—this technique aims for subtle background illumination rather than direct lighting.
4. Selecting Beam Angles, Output and Colour Temperature
Choosing the right specifications is as important as selecting the technique:
Beam angle:
- Narrow beams (10–15°) enhance tall, upright forms
- Wider beams (40–60°) suit broad canopies
Output:
- 3–6W LEDs for small trees
- 15–25W for medium/10–12m trees
- 26W (Titan 26) for medium-large trees
- 45W (Titan 45) for very large or mature trees
Colour temperature:
- Warm white (2700–3000K) enhances bark, foliage and ambience
- 4000K neutral white fits contemporary or minimalist landscapes
Lighting for Gardens also offers LED drivers, low-voltage systems and accessories to ensure safe, reliable installation across all project sizes.
5. Practical Installation Tips (Including One Essential Pro Trick)
A few planning considerations will help ensure long-lasting, easy-to-maintain results:
- Plan cable routes early, especially around planting that may grow significantly.
- Always select corrosion-resistant fittings suitable for UK weather.
- Keep brackets and adjusters accessible for future maintenance.
And an essential tip—especially for beginners:
Try the light before installing it.
Put a plug on the fitting, take it into the garden after dark, and test different positions before any permanent work begins.
Small changes make a big difference: moving a light by as little as one metre can completely alter the effect.
For recessed uplights, this step is critical as they are difficult to reposition later. For spike-mounted fittings, leave a little slack cable so you can adjust the location as the tree grows over the years.
Professional tree lighting transforms garden spaces and provides year-round visual interest. By combining the right techniques with thoughtfully chosen fittings, designers and installers can achieve sophisticated results that look effortless — and stand the test of time.