Mulching: Landscape Lighting Maintenance
Mulching is beneficial to plant materials and is aesthetically pleasing. Mulching has many advantages but can cause problems to your landscape lighting system. There are ways to address some of these common problems and provide tips to keep your outdoor lighting system working properly.
Are the lights out? Check The Mulch
If the lighting is out in an area where you’ve placed mulch, it’s possible that the lighting fixtures have been buried. This is common with lighting fixtures that are low to the ground. You’ll want to unbury the fixtures and clear the mulch around the lights.
Always let the landscaping company know about any outdoor lighting system you have installed. As the landscaper to not cover the fixtures when applying the mulch. Also, request that the landscaper removes any old mulch before they add the new mulch. If they add too much mulch to the area, it can trap moisture that’s intended for plants.
If the lights are not covered by mulch and they still don’t work, then it’s possible you may have accidentally cut the wires.
How to Avoid Cutting Outdoor Lighting Wires
Cutting outdoor lighting wires are costly and common. This is a problem that is often encountered after a property has been power edged and mulched. Some or all the lighting fixtures may not turn on if this problem occurs. Outdoor lighting services in Houston can help fix this issue.
We recommend hiring an outdoor lighting service technician to repair any cut or frayed wires. They have the experience needed to locate cuts and accurately make repairs that are waterproof. Since each situation is different, it’s important to have a skilled professional do this time-consuming and difficult task.
To prevent the outdoor wires from being cut, we recommend having any wires located and flagged before you use a power edger and apply mulch. When you contact us, let us know when you’re having any services done. A service technician will visit the property to flag and locate wires. The flags let companies know to avoid certain areas.
The power edger blade usually cuts 3 to 4 inches into the ground. At Robert Huff Illumination Outdoor Lighting, we bury lighting wire about 6 to 8 inches. This is deep enough to avoid cutting the wire. Old wires will eventually work their way to the surface. To be safe, it’s better to have your outdoor lighting wires flagged and located before power edging and mulching.
Call or contact Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting today for more information!