Adding landscape lighting to your property can completely transform the way you experience your outdoor spaces. Great lighting not only highlights the natural beauty of your home and landscape but also makes your property safer and more welcoming after dark.
At Smith Lawn and Tree, we specialize in professional landscape lighting installation for homes and commercial properties across North Texas. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what makes a lighting project successful—from design ideas to the installation process—so you can picture what’s possible when you work with an experienced team.
Outdoor lighting helps guide people along walkways, driveways, patios, and entrances. It reduces the risk of tripping and falling, especially in darker corners of your property. Landscape lighting can also discourage unwanted visitors by keeping your yard well-lit throughout the night.
During the day, your landscape shines under natural sunlight. At night, smart lighting can highlight trees, stonework, flower beds, and outdoor features, giving your yard a completely different personality. Soft uplighting on trees or a gentle wash of light over a flowerbed can turn an ordinary evening into something special.
Patios, gardens, and backyards don’t have to go unused after dark. Good lighting extends the hours you can spend outdoors, whether you’re relaxing with family or hosting guests for dinner under the stars.
Good landscape lighting starts with good planning. Every property is unique, and lighting needs to be customized for your layout, goals, and style.
When you partner with Smith Lawn and Tree, our team begins by walking your property with you. We look at pathways, gardens, patios, trees, fences, and other features you might want to highlight. We also consider any dark spots that could use some extra lighting for safety.
Every property is different. Some homeowners want to make their outdoor spaces feel more inviting. Others need better security lighting around doors and driveways. Some want to spotlight their favorite trees or create a soft glow around a pool or patio. We’ll help you prioritize your goals so the finished project checks every box.
Based on the walk-through and your goals, we create a professional lighting plan. We layer different types of lighting (such as path lights, spotlights, and accent lights) to build depth and visual interest without overpowering the space.
Choosing the right fixtures is a big part of a successful project. Each type of light serves a specific purpose.
Path lights run low to the ground and guide people along walkways, driveways, and garden paths. These lights add safety and a welcoming glow without feeling harsh.
Spotlights are focused beams of light used to highlight specific features like a large tree, a sculpture, or the front of your home. They can be adjusted to create dramatic effects or subtle highlights.
Floodlights provide wide beams of light that can cover large areas. These are commonly used for security lighting around garages, driveways, and entryways.
These fixtures are mounted into decks, steps, and stairways. They add safety by marking changes in elevation and make outdoor living spaces more comfortable to use at night.
In-ground lights are installed flush with the soil or hardscape surface. They are often used for uplighting trees, columns, and stone walls without the fixtures being visible.
Our process is thorough, efficient, and tailored to each property in the DFW area. Here’s how we bring your landscape lighting project to life:
Smith Lawn and Tree’s team handles every aspect of installation—from trenching wires to securing fixtures—all with minimal disruption to your existing landscaping. We only use top-quality materials built to stand up to the Texas weather.
Most landscape lighting systems run on low voltage, which requires installing a transformer. Our experts carefully place and set up the transformer to provide consistent power to all lights without being intrusive.
Correct placement is what separates professional landscape lighting from a DIY project. We thoughtfully angle, bury, and adjust every fixture to create the right balance of light, shadow, and highlight.
After installation, we test the system at night to fine-tune light angles and brightness levels. If something needs adjusting—whether it’s a path light that’s too dim or a spotlight that’s hitting the wrong feature—we fix it before the project is finished.
At Smith Lawn and Tree, we know Texas landscapes. Our designs consider things like the types of trees common in North Texas (live oaks, crepe myrtles, and pecans), the hot summers, and how people in this area like to enjoy their outdoor spaces.
We create landscape lighting that feels natural, suits your home’s style, and can handle everything from spring storms to triple-digit heat. Whether you’re lighting a rustic stone patio in Southlake or a modern courtyard in Fort Worth, we build systems made for Texas living.
Highlight one or two focal points instead of trying to light everything at once. A beautiful oak tree, a water feature, or the front entryway are perfect starting points.
Using a mix of ambient, accent, and task lighting creates a more interesting and comfortable outdoor environment than relying on one type of light alone.
Outdoor spaces tend to feel more natural and cozy with warm light (2700K–3000K). We use lighting that feels inviting, not harsh or sterile.
Trees grow, shrubs fill in, and flowerbeds change with the seasons. We design lighting systems flexible enough to keep your property looking its best all year.
Smith Lawn and Tree is proud to offer complete landscape lighting services across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding communities. We don’t just install lights—we help bring your vision for your outdoor spaces to life.
From start to finish, we handle the entire project with care, skill, and a local touch that only comes from decades of experience in the DFW area. No matter the size or style of your property, we can design a custom lighting system that makes your home or business shine after dark.
Ready to light up your landscape? Contact Smith Lawn and Tree today to schedule a consultation and discover how professional landscape lighting can completely transform your outdoor spaces.
Russell Simpler became a managing partner at Smith Lawn and Tree in 2006. With a background in horticultural business from Tarleton State University, he brings extensive knowledge in plants, turf, and landscape design. Russell’s entrepreneurial vision has been instrumental in expanding Smith Lawn and Tree into a leading landscape management company in the DFW metro area.
A licensed commercial pesticide applicator, Russell has over 13 years of experience in the green industry. At Smith Lawn and Tree, he focuses on landscape management and employee development.
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