Lighting for gardens is best installed during the planning phase, especially if mains power is required for lamps. The figure below shows a set of symbols suitable for lighting plans.
If you would like to use the symbols used above, click on the image above to download a set of symbols that can be used to show a lighting plan in a gCADPlus drawing. Note that the symbols are schematic and indicate the type and position of a lamp. They are not drawn in actual size in the lighting plan.
Here is an alternative link to the palette of CAD lighting symbols suitable for landscape designers who wish to design lighting layouts.
Note: There appears to be no fixed standard for developing lighting symbols. Some symbols have an illumination beam associated with them. Those symbols can be placed along with symbols for species.
Tip: Lighting designers love including plant symbols for species, such as Japanese Maples, in plans, as the form with the red bark provides a good opportunity for lighting.
Styles of lighting
The most suitable type of lighting in your lighting plan will depend on the area to be lit:
- soft lighting might be provided on the lawn, near the flowerbeds, hedges, or plants
- more intense in areas for entertaining,
- medium intensity to light up walkways.
Spotlights might be used for hedges, swimming pools or walkways, and specimen species, while softer lamps might be used for enclosed structures such as patios and summer houses. The figure below shows a variety of lighting styles applied in a SketchUp model derived from a gCADPlus design.
This small movie shows how to download a palette of extra symbols to gCADPlus and use them in a developing design.
Download a trial copy of gCADPlus landscape design software.