When the months begin to grow colder, a lot of people start to turn their attention to shutting down the garden. It’s time to kill the garden lighting and let everything sink back to the earth.
Winterizing your garden isn’t a bad idea, and the main reason for that is that everything has to take a rest – even plants! If you live in a region where the winter temperatures regularly dip towards zero or you see a great deal of snowfall, then preparing your garden for a long sleep should be a priority.
Your garden lights should not be left out in the cold! First, remove any bulbs that you can. Gently wrap them in soft cloth – old worn denim works best. Then place them in a box where they won’t be rolling around.
Next, gather the light itself – with the bulb gone – and take it inside. This is an excellent time to clean the light. Using a damp cloth, and perhaps a touch of a mild cleansing agent, gently wash the light. Remove all the accumulated dust and dirt from a spring, summer and fall out in the garden.
Let the light air dry, and then store it in a safe place. You might want to keep it near the bulb that goes along with it, so you don’t have to go searching for it come Spring.
Winter is also a good time to evaluate the lighting system you have used in your garden. What did you like about it? What didn’t work? What would you change for the upcoming season?
Make a list and then let your imagination play with it. Every new year is a chance to create better and more beautiful lighting schemes for your lawn and garden. Don’t let this time go to waste! You can even create a map or master list that details your garden lighting plan.
Enjoy your winter – your new garden lighting season will be upon you soon enough!