By Scott and Ann Springer

Retailers can ask customers to bring in photos of their garden areas to help employees recommend the best products for their needs. (Courtesy of Versa-lok)

Customers can create dramatic and stunning garden settings for evening enjoyment by considering three concerns: depth, clarity and movement.

Fixture placement plays a critical role in creating the dramatic effects desired, said Stan Shibata, president of Focus Industries, Inc., in Lake Forest, Calif. First, a water gardener must consider the pond’s depth to know the quantity of fixtures needed to light it, he said.

Second, he or she should consider water clarity. “If the water isn’t clear, then the fixture may have to be moved closer to the surface to allow more light to exit the pond,” Shibata said.

Finally, the water’s movement requires proper highlighting, Shibata said. While mounting height depends on the type of water feature spotlighted, people generally should mount a light fixture two or three inches from the surface to achieve the desired impact.

Shibata recommended that retailers ask customers to bring in photos of their garden areas before they dole out advice on how to light it up. “It takes away the anxiety and allows you to give a good recommendation,” he said. <HOME>