Lighting your garden should be as important as lighting your home.

After putting in all of thehard work creating anidyllicpatch of land, outside lightingis often seen as the finishing touch, helping you to transform how your garden looks and functions with minimal effort. When you want to show off your perfectly pruned handy work long after the sun's gone down, or simply add a little bit of mood lighting while you entertain guests after dark, outdoor lighting should be a top priority.

When it comes to lighting outdoor spaces, there are several options to choose from. One of the most popular options is solar lighting, owing to its ease of installation, safety and environmental benefits.

Solar lighting doesn'trequire plugging in to a mains circuit, so there's no need to work out the logistics of trailing unsightly and dangerous wires and cables around your garden. Better still, solar lightingdoesn't use up any of your electricity supply, meaning that there's no risk of electrocution, and the lights continue to function even if there's been a power cut.

They're versatile. You can use solar lighting to light homes, cabins, or caravans in remote locations. It can be very expensive to run power lines out to a cabin in the woods. Setting up solar lighting may be a cheaper, more practical alternative.

Another of the many benefits of solar lighting is that most outdoor solar lights have darkness sensors. There's no need to stress about turning them on or off; on many of the solar lightsall power functions are handled automatically.Solar lights require very little maintenance. Few moveable parts mean that fewer parts exist to break. They last for a long time and require little attention once installed.

The lights are also cool to the touch, making them safe for children and pets.Above all they're a great alternative for the environmentally friendly and the cost conscious gardener.

Solar power is continuously improving, and you can pick up half a dozen garden solar lights now for a reasonable price of around £30. Many mid range decorative solar lights will turn on automatically as it gets dark, and last for around 8 hours. You can also buy security solar lights that have infrared detectors, turning on when they sense motion.

How do solar lights work?
Solar lights make use of the suns light in the daytime to charge rechargeable batteries, which in turn powersthe light. This is achieved with the use of a small solar array fitted to each light.

How can I use solar lights?
Solar lights can be used as a replacement for your regular outdoor security light or can be used to light up paths and walkways in a garden. Having a few placed around your flower beds can also deter animals and intruders.

In the same way as the right lighting is important to room design it can be to garden design too and some strategically placed solar lights can look attractive. You can use solar lights to add highlights to your garden by placing them near a rockery, or to line a path or flowerbed.