Planning

• Outdoor lighting should accent your landscape features as well as provide pathway security to your front door. Decide how you want to line the walkway and which features you want to show off. This will help you to determine how many and what types of lights you will need.
  
  Walkway lights should be spaced about 10 feet apart and they should not be placed directly opposite others on the other side of the path. Area lights are great for play areas, gardens or even boulders. Spot lights are more suited to trees and sculptures. Plan out your design and make a rough sketch before you head to the hardware store.
  
  

Supplies

• Most well-stocked hardware stores will have a variety of lighting fixtures. There are many to choose from so take your time and have fun with this part.
  
  You will need a transformer to hook up your lights so that they will operate. It changes your homes AC current to a DC current, which makes the installation job easier and safer. Most are plug-in units and you will have to determine where to place it on your home. You want a unit that will carry the overall wattage of your system with some left over for possible additions in the future. A 300-watt transformer is a good choice.
  
  Wiring will be essential to your outdoor lighting project. If you are using a 300-watt transformer, use 12/2 wire and make sure you have enough to go between all your lights. A 150-foot roll should be enough for an average-size yard.
  
  

Installation

• Determine where your transformer is going to hang on the house. It should be close to an outlet so that you can plug it in. With the transformer up, run the individual wires to your proposed light sites with an additional 3 feet for positioning. Attach your leads to the transformer, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  Position your lights and loosely put them into the ground. After it is dark, adjust them and then you can put them all the way into the ground. Hook up the wires to the lights and set your timer on the transformer. Check that the lights are working and that your connections are tight.
  
  You do not have to bury the wires, because they are low voltage. You can cover them with gravel or mulch. If you have to bury then in turf, use a spade to cut a 3-inch-deep trench and then cover the wire. When the sun goes down, turn on your lights and reposition them as necessary. Once they are in position, sink them completely into the ground.