If you have kids or own pets, you know how rambunctious they both can be while playing in the yard. While these actions are preferred outdoors, this can mean trouble for your landscape lighting. If you want to create a space that utilizes quality lighting, while still being safe and kid and pet-proof, use the tips here. The fact is, your yard can look great and be a safe place for your kids and pets to play – during the day and night.
Accommodate Your Pets Needs
In many cases, pets are spending more time in your yard than you. This is why you need to take some time to make sure the space suits their needs. This can include grassy areas for lazy, afternoon naps, or installing flood lights for safety during nighttime bathroom breaks – accommodating their needs will make them happier and safer.
However, pets can also have a number of annoying habits, including chewing and digging, which can both be nightmares for landscape lighting. However, with a bit of planning, this does not have to be a problem.
If your pet digs, think about creating an area in the yard that is just for this activity – away from any buried landscape lighting wires. If there are exposed wires, contact the maintenance service at the IDL Company to come out and help hide these, minimizing the chance they will be chewed on.
Safeguarding Landscape Lighting from Kids
Kids also love being outdoors. Part of the reason you may have initially installed landscape lighting is to provide them with a safe way to play outside after dark. However, if there are wires and transformer boxes accessible, it can cause a few concerns.
The best thing to do is to show children where the lighting is and make sure they understand not to mess or play with it. Just like for pets, you can also bury any wires that may be lying on the ground to prevent trips, falls, and damage. If you have a transformer box in plain view, it may be beneficial to install a lock box over it. This will prevent kids from being able to get to it, hurt the lighting or themselves.
Take Preventative Steps
One of the best ways to protect your home landscape lighting is to take preventative steps. For example, if digging is an issue, consider placing paving stones or decorative rocks around the areas where lighting fixtures are found. Also, keep the health and well-being of kids in pets in mind when creating a landscape lighting plan. If you create a design with these little people and four-legged friends in mind, you should not have any trouble.
If you need some help making your existing landscape lighting plan friendly for pets and kids, be sure to call the professionals at the IDL Company. They will be able to evaluate the existing lighting and make sure there are no serious dangers or issues present.
