Inexpensive Landscape Lighting with Tiki Torches

By: David Hobbs

The weather is finally easing its way to warm and that always means one thing for me; more time spent in the garden department at our local hardware store. Last year around this time I was looking into new fencing and decorative containers for flowers. This year I find myself thinking about the next evolutions in our modest little garden and that means getting creative with elevations and lighting. Of course, like many of us faced with this economy, I'm pinching pennies where I can and that means full-fledged landscape lighting might not be in the budget. But I can still accomplish much of what I want with a low cost alternative; the humble tiki torch.

Tiki torches are fantastic alternatives for the do-it-yourselfer with a limited budget. They are easy to install, offer flexibility in their placement, are height adjustable, come in many styles and the price is certainly right! Maintenance is also a breeze, amounting to little more than topping off the fuel or replacing a wick now and then. With a little bit of creativity you can set up a lighting scheme that's sure to wow your guests.

In addition to the benefits listed above, there is just something magical about tiki torch light. It sets a fantastic mood from romantic to mysterious. Nothing screams tropical getaway like that flickering flame dancing at the top of a post and it's my favorite accessory for garden cookouts and entertaining outdoors past dusk. But do tiki torches really stack up to low voltage landscaping lights? If you're willing to make some compromises and get creative, they certainly can.

While graced with their own flare for creating ambiance, tiki torches have some limitations in their ability to create a setting over their on-the-grid counterparts. Landscape lighting truly allows you to "paint with light" by spotlighting elements in your garden you wish to highlight. You'll have to play to the strengths of your torches to accomplish what you hoped with landscape lighting. Consider some of the following suggestions:

Uplighting trees in your garden with landscape lighting creates a dramatic look. Assuming the lowest branches on your tree are sufficiently elevated, you can get a similar effect by planting your tiki torch under trees. Extreme caution is required, though, lest you set that prize tree on fire. If possible, trim low branches to a safe height or shorten the post of your torch to lower it to an acceptable and safe level.

Spot lighting prized flowers and plants requires a different perspective with tiki torches. Where landscape lighting can be directed up or at what you would like to illuminate, tiki torches do not "direct" light. To get similar results, they should be planted so that their light bathes the element you're trying to highlight in a pool of light. I accomplish this by planting torches smack in the middle of various planting beds in my garden.

Path lighting is a wonderful way to subtly direct your guests through various garden elements you want to show off or to prevent them tripping over obstacles. Ordinary tiki torches placed along a path can serve to accomplish this very well. For a creative alternative, table top torches (tiki torches absent a pole) can be placed on decorative rocks or spaces on the ground without prolific foliage. The base of the device will not get hot but keep spills and the risk of accidental tip-over potential in mind and avoid setting these on flammable material such as mulch.

Regardless your approach to substituting low voltage exterior lighting with tiki torches, keep safety in mind. This is the one area where tiki torches will always run a distant second to electric lighting options. Ensure that your torches are securely planted in the ground or, if a table top variety, that they are placed on a flat and stable surface. When entertaining, keep a chemical extinguisher handy for emergencies. Do NOT use water as you'll just spread the lit fuel around.

Used creatively and with common sense, tiki torches offer a financially sound alternative to the expense of installed landscape lighting. This is one area where I can save some money this spring while still accomplishing what I set out to do in my garden. A final benefit I haven't mentioned is my natural male propensity for overdoing it. It's a common mistake for DIY landscapers to over do landscape lighting with garish and unsightly results. The soft, warm light from tiki torches helps to diminish the odds of that happening. Of course, knowing me, I'll just go buy more of them and wind up overdoing it anyway. Maybe if I just build a big bonfire...

Article Source: http://home2garden.co.za

About The Author
Among other blogs, David writes for Tikitorchesguide.com, a blog devoted to entertaining with tiki torches, their creative uses and maintenance.