Lights OUT!

Enjoy your garden after the sun goes down by introducing some stylish lighting

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What a difference a bit of light makes to a garden at night! A few sparkling fairy lights around the patio and a softly glowing lantern on the table will help you soak up the atmosphere on warm evenings.

You don't need masses of multicoloured bulbs dangling from every branch. The aim is to create a softly lit focal point where you're sitting or eating, and then a few highlights on shrubs and trees, stake lights placed through a border, or fairy lights dressing up a shrub or fence.

Solar-powered

If you don't have a power point for mains electricity outdoors, battery or solar-powered lights can be used. They look pretty and are versatile as you're not dependent on a cable to the mains power supply. However, they don't throw much real light and only last as long as the battery or sunlight charge. However, they're brilliant as fairy lights for covering fences, screens or shrubs with glowworm glamour, and some of the larger strings of lights with colourful ornamental shades make lovely swags around patios and pergolas. The panel on solar-powered lights should be in a bright position during the day, and not shaded by foliage.

Candles