Solar landscape lighting is an easy to install, earth-friendly way to add light to your property. It comes in so many styles that anyone can compliment the style of their home. By planning carefully solar lighting can be used to add drama, or light a pathway for safety. Best of all, it costs nothing to power, just some sunny days and good positioning of the solar cells.

The lights work well nearly everywhere. If there are many overcast days they may not shine for the full ten hours but they will work to one degree or another.

When planning your lighting consider carefully where the lights are to be placed and make note of anything that could shade the solar cell. Solar landscape lights will run about ten hours with optimum sunlight during the day. It is therefore important to place the PV panel in a position to receive the most sunlight for the longest time.

Some of the reasons that solar landscape lighting may not work well are:

• Shaded by trees
• accumulation of dirt on collector
• buildings blocking the sunlight

Any one of these issues can keep the lights from charging properly. That is why it is important to plan before you buy. In some rare cases solar lighting may just not work for some people.

Solar lights will, of course, run for a full night in the summer but wintertime may mean that the lights are only lighting for part of the night. If having security lights on for the entire night is important then you may want to intersperse the solar lights with a few that run on electricity so that you can use them if needed.

If the PV cell is part of the light fixture you will need to be sure that each fixture has complete access to sunlight. There is no need to run wires in these types of fixtures because each has its own solar collector and battery.

If you have areas that are shaded then it may be better to go with a type of solar landscape lighting that has a remote PV cell. If you decide to use this type you will need to run a ditch to bury the wires that run between the PV cell and the individual lights.

Add the perfect mood to your home with the right light for the right effect.

• Low fixture lights are great for landscapes borders, steps, paths and driveways because they are low to the ground. They illuminate small areas.

• Tall fixtures are good for gardens, decks and patios. They light a wider area.

• Tier lights shed their light downward. This makes them perfect for steps.

• Solar spotlights accent statuary or a specific area of the landscape for a dramatic effect.

• Patio lights can be installed on a deck to accent the deck. You can use more for a brighter area or less for a more intimate feel.

• Motion sensor lights come on when they sense motion. These are primarily for security purposes.

Solar landscape lighting comes in many different finishes and designs to compliment any home décor. From Arts and Crafts to completely modern there is a lighting system that will fit your style.

Installation is generally a simple matter of attaching the light, or securing it into the ground, depending on the type used. If you use a system that has individual PV cells then there are no wires or cables to run. You will just intall each light where you want it to go acording to manufacturers' instructions.

It will take a day or so for your new lights to reach full power. LED lights are brighter than other types. Batteries must be taken into consideration as well. Cadmium or nickel work longer and better than other types.

Maintenance is a simple matter of checking the lights regularly. Make sure that the PV cells are clean and receiving adequate light. Check the bulbs, and make sure the fixture is still secure where it was installed.

Solar landscape lights can be a fantastic addition to your yard. The ease with which they can be installed, the value, and the fact that they are inexpensive to run makes them a very desirable alternative to traditional electric lighting.