Journal / Trees and gardens
Trees and gardens ideas for after dark.
Plants are living architecture. A lighting plan should account for their shape today, how they grow, and the effect from the home as well as the yard.
Eight focused guides
Choose the question that fits your project.
These articles are planning resources for Pittsburgh-area homeowners. A property-specific design still begins with a conversation and a look at the setting.
Explore the topicMature oak uplightingA mature oak needs thoughtful beam placement to reveal branching without turning the canopy into a bright mass.Explore the topicBirch tree lightingPale birch trunks can become a strong vertical element with very little light.Explore the topicJapanese maple lightingA small sculptural tree can become a focal point when light catches the branching and seasonal foliage.Explore the topicEvergreen lightingEvergreens provide year-round structure, especially when deciduous beds are quiet in winter.Explore the topicHydrangea bed lightingDense summer blooms can hide fixtures and change the way light spreads through a border.Explore the topicOrnamental grass lightingGrasses can glow with backlight or edge light, but their movement and seasonal cutback matter.Explore the topicGarden wall and plantingLighting a wall behind planting can create a second layer without flooding the bed itself.Explore the topicSpecimen tree placementA focal tree should relate to the house, path, and primary indoor view rather than stand alone.
The night is full of possibility
See your home in a whole new light.
Tell us what you have in mind. We would love to talk through the possibilities for your Pittsburgh-area property.
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