Over the last few years, gardening has become an increasingly popular American pastime. According to recent reports from Bigger Gardening, up to 55% of US households now actively participate in gardening, equivalent to about 185 million people across the country. Studies find that more people are taking up gardening because of its many timely benefits. These include stress relief, community building, and even food stability amid rising living costs. 

Regardless of what drives a person to start gardening, most gardeners are proud to highlight their hard work. One of the best ways to do this is through strategic and effective lighting solutions that elevate a garden's aesthetic beauty while also helping maintain overall safety and accessibility. So, here are some simple but lovely ways to light up your garden that won’t even cost you too much.

Solar-powered LEDs

Suppose you want to enjoy evening lighting that won’t hurt your budget or add to your daily routine; opt for solar-powered ones. QVC’s selection of outdoor decor shows how solar-powered lighting options are stylishly versatile, easy to manage, and cost-efficient. With models like the Energizer Solar Multi-Direction Disc Lights, you can enjoy a well-lit garden without any hassle. As automatic repositional lights, you don’t need to worry about any wires or timers. Instead, you can just pop them on any surface and watch them active come sundown. Since these can also retain up to 90% of their 20 lumens per light brightness even after eight hours, they can provide flattering and effective illumination throughout your garden.

Because these don’t connect to any power grid, they’re especially perfect for homes in areas with power consumption concerns. For instance, extremely cold temperatures in the Southeast United States earlier this year caused record-high power demands. This compelled local officials, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, to request that citizens lower their power use during peak hours to help meet demand and save money on their own bills.



Movable accent lanterns

For many homeowners, light fixtures double as decorations, too. Using the same approach in a garden can add a level of personality that works even if your outdoor area is minimalist or still in progress. Even during the day, when lighting is typically not an issue, inactive accent lights can still add a dash of style that elevates the whole space. Accent lanterns are one such easy type of lighting solution to incorporate into any garden. Chain retailers like Target now carry these types of lights, with brands like Room Essentials making them specifically for outdoor use. As a result, these are designed to be easy to move around, weather-resistant, and comfortably bright.

Lanterns, in particular, work great as garden accents since they can be set on a flat surface or hung up on virtually anything that can hold their weight. Consequently, they make for flexible decorative lights that can be incorporated even in small or oddly shaped gardens that might make other, more traditional lights hard to match. While you can use lanterns that rely on candles, LED-powered ones are preferable as they don’t need to be tended to as carefully.



Hanging string lights

Looking for a festive lighting style that really highlights your green thumb? Try using hanging string lights around your plants. To do this, you simply need to wrap a length of string lights around a sturdy enough plant, like a tree. Alternatively, you could also do this around large planters. Since they use the actual plants as foundations for the lights, you don’t have to worry about not having enough surfaces or structures to mount them on. At the same time, they add a whimsical appeal that works especially well during the holidays.

That said, it’s important to err on the side of safety and only use string lights that are approved for outdoor use. For example, Magitec’s outdoor string lights are made of shatterproof materials, so they can withstand the elements better. Additionally, you’ll need to use GFCI-approved lights and outlets, to prevent any accidental short circuits.