When it comes to garden lighting, few understand the balance between practicality and beauty better than Philip Milner, Technical Manager at Lighting for Gardens. Recently featured in The English Garden magazine as a leading voice in outdoor lighting, Philip shared his expertise on how to enhance an established garden with minimal disruption—and maximum impact.
“Adding lighting to an existing, established garden is quite a different matter to incorporating it from the start,” Philip explains. “But that doesn’t mean it has to be disruptive.” His top recommendation? A plug-and-play lighting system. These low-voltage lighting systems are easy to install, don’t require trenching, and are safe for homeowners to set up themselves.
“You may not get all the bells and whistles without digging, but you can still do quite a lot,” he adds. With plug-and-play, cables can be laid on the surface and hidden behind planting or run along fences—no electrician or upheaval necessary. It’s an ideal solution for homeowners looking to add charm and function without disturbing their garden beds.
A key element in Philip’s lighting schemes is the spike spotlight. “Spike spots often form the backbone of our garden lighting schemes because they’re versatile and easy to install,” he says. “They’re a really good starting point and can be very effective at uplighting a shrub or tree. The whole plant glows as the light filters and diffuses through it.”
But garden lighting isn’t about flooding every corner with light—it’s about creating atmosphere. “If you’ve got a 10m x 10m garden, you don’t want to illuminate the whole lot,” Philip advises. “It’s better to create pools of light and focus on just one or two features—like a statue, a water feature, or a beautiful pot—to draw the eye and create contrast.”
For safety, lighting steps and changes in elevation is also important. “A spike-mounted spreadlight can cast a downward pool of light that’s subtle but helps prevent accidents,” he says. Warm white bulbs (around 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins) are Philip’s preferred choice for avoiding harsh glare and maintaining a relaxed feel.
Philip also provides practical guidance on system limitations. “Most average-sized gardens can be lit with a plug-and-play system,” he notes. However, he cautions not to overload a single transformer—ideally no more than ten lights per unit—and to be mindful of voltage drop on longer cable runs.
And while solar lighting may seem like a quick fix, Philip advises caution. “Solar sounds fantastic, but there are issues. Many cheap options flood the market and compromise on both performance and aesthetics.”
Whether you’re looking to host garden soirées or simply enjoy your space after dark, Philip Milner’s thoughtful, low-impact approach ensures your garden can shine—without digging up the dream you’ve already planted.