Glossary of Landscape Lighting Terms

Glossary of Landscape Lighting Terms Bollard A landscape light mounted on a short vertical post. Bollard lights can be shorter than 12 inches when used as garden lights, but are usually closer to 30 inches. Also known as post lights. Cowl A hood apparatus used on spotlights to concentrate the light in a desired direction. Deck Lighting Landscape lights mounted on walls, rails, fences, posts, or other architectural features of decks. Step lights are deck lights placed near stairs or walkways. Floodlight Floodlights are broad-beamed exterior lights most often used as security or functional lighting. Lens Lenses are landscape lighting accessories used for light alteration and fixture protection. A landscape light lens might be used to filter colors, soften beams, or reduce glare.

Louver

Louvers are the vent-like openings or slats used on some landscape lighting fixtures to control the direction of the light.

Rock guard

A landscape lighting accessory attached to well lights to protect the lens and fixture from being damaged by rocks or debris.

Spotlight

A type of landscape light that directs a concentrated beam onto a very specific area or feature. Spotlights offer targeted lighting rather than ambient or diffuse landscape lighting.

Stake

Stakes are landscape lighting accessories that are driven into the ground to support path lights and other yard lights. Also known as stems.

Transformer

Transformers are electrical devices used in low-voltage landscape lighting systems to reduce the 120-volt power of a home's electrical circuit to the 12-volt power used by low-voltage landscape lights. Transformers have a maximum wattage capacity that cannot be exceeded, e.g. a 200-watt transformer is too weak for four 50-watt lights.

Well light

Well lights are outdoor lights that are usually "buried" in the ground or paved into driveways or walkways. Well lights cast light upward and are most often used for wall lighting and similar techniques.