Last summer's project was the backyard with spot and path lighting. Now it's time for the front. I have a plan for adding spots and path lighting but would like to go for a moonlight effect in this maple tree. It's about 25'-30' feet tall. I estimate the highest point in the middle that I could attach a downlight is about 18' off the ground. Can you recommend lamp wattage and beam spread? I've never done this before so I could use some advice. Thanks much, hot and dry in Iowa!
Hey, Matt. VOLT has a decent primer on moonlighting you might want to check out for guidance on your project. I also recommend that you search online for photos of downlighting examples. Depending on how realistic you want the effect to be, there are a variety of approaches to creating a moonlighting effect. Probably the biggest decision you’ll make is what kind of mood you want to create, as that will determine your choice of light color temperature. Warmer colors (2200K and 2700K) can look quite soothing and romantic, imo. They’re a good choice if you want something dramatic but realism isn’t a huge priority. Cooler colors (3000K or 4000K) will more closely approximate moonlight. Imo, the bluish color can make an otherwise unremarkable yard or garden look ethereal. Regardless of which color you choose, I’d recommend that you go with path lights in a similar color. IOW, if you go with 4000K for the down lights, go with 3000K for your path lights. In terms of brightness, if you want a subtle but not underwhelming impact, I’d recommend 3W or 4W lamps). If you have no street lights or other lighting that could wash out the effect, you shouldn’t need to go brighter. For maximum coverage, a pair of fixtures with 60 degree or 110 degree beam spreads should do the trick. But bear in mind that at the height you’re mounting them, you’ll get fairly decent coverage at even narrower beam spreads. As you’ll see in many examples, sometimes people illuminate the trunk of the tree in addition to their down lights. You might decide that approach isn’t for you, though. There isn’t one single perfect way to do downlighting and remember, you can always add or remove lights later if you change your mind. Finally, consider how your tree and yard look at different times of the year. Think about what the tree will look like illuminated when the leaves turn colors in the fall, when it’s bare in winter, when it’s full of snow or coated in rain or ice. These are other factors that may influence your decisions about light color and beam spread. HTH.
