Do I Need to Adjust My Landscape Lighting More Than Once a Year?
Landscape lighting is not set it and forget it. Plant growth, weather, and seasonal changes all affect how your system performs. Uneven coverage, dark spots, or glare are signs it may be time for an adjustment. Find out how often experts recommend tune ups to keep your NYC or Hamptons home beautifully lit year round.
As the seasons start to change, outdoor lighting is one of the simplest ways to bring out the beauty of your home while also improving safety and curb appeal. For homeowners in the Hamptons, landscape lighting is also a way to extend outdoor living into every season. A common question we hear at Hamptons Landscape Lighting is whether once the lights are installed, they need to be adjusted again.
The short answer is yes. Even the most thoughtfully designed lighting system benefits from regular maintenance. Here is why.
Why Landscape Lighting Needs Adjustments
Landscape lights aren’t static. Over time, natural changes can shift how your system performs:
Plant growth: Trees, shrubs, and flowers reshape the way light falls as they grow.
Weather: Heavy rain, snow, or strong winds can nudge fixtures out of place.
Seasonal changes: Fall and winter landscape lighting looks and feels different once leaves drop and shadows lengthen.
Daily life: Lawn care, pets, and children may unintentionally move or tilt fixtures.
How Often Should Lights Be Adjusted?
At minimum: Once a year. Annual adjustments keep your system aligned and your focal points lit.
Best practice: Twice a year, usually in spring after new growth and mulch, and in fall after leaves drop.
Special occasions: Hosting a wedding, holiday, or outdoor event? A quick tune up ensures everything shines.
Signs It’s Time for an Adjustment
Uneven lighting or dark patches where light once fell
Fixtures casting light into the sky or ground instead of on features
Glare that feels uncomfortable rather than inviting
A design that no longer looks balanced compared to its original plan
DIY vs Professional Tune Ups
You can make small tweaks on your own, but a professional service ensures your system performs at its best. Professionals provide:
Precise aiming for beauty and efficiency
Cleaning of lenses and fixtures for maximum brightness
Repositioning lights to complement seasonal growth
Inspection of wiring, timers, and transformers for reliability
The Takeaway
Landscape lighting is not a set it and forget it investment. For the best results, schedule at least one annual adjustment—or even better, seasonal tune ups. With proper outdoor lighting maintenance, your Hamptons landscape lighting will continue to highlight your home’s architecture and gardens beautifully while ensuring safety, efficiency, and year round curb appeal.
Ready to schedule your seasonal adjustment? Contact us today and our team will make sure your home shines through fall and winter.
Outdated Timers vs Wi-Fi Control for Your Landscape Lighting
Analog timers are outdated and unreliable. Wi-Fi timers bring convenience, seasonal adjustments, and app-based control to your landscape lighting. Learn why upgrading is a simple step that keeps your outdoor lighting reliable and effortless.
For years, most landscape lighting systems relied on simple analog timers. They worked with a dial you had to set by hand, turning lights on and off at a fixed time each evening. At first glance they seemed practical, but these timers have real drawbacks that become more noticeable over time.
The Problem With Analog Timers
Analog timers are inexpensive and often need to be replaced every year or two. They do not adjust for changing seasons, so the time you set in the summer may leave your home in the dark during the winter months. If your power goes out, the settings are lost and you have to go outside to reset them. Many homeowners do not even realize how much effort these timers require until they stop working altogether.
Why Wi-Fi Timers Are Different
Wi-Fi timers bring convenience and reliability to your outdoor lighting. They connect directly to your transformer, stay protected from the elements, and are programmed through an easy-to-use app.
Features include:
Automatic seasonal adjustments so your lights match the sunset
Battery backup to preserve settings during short power outages
Control from your phone, whether you are at home or away
More durable design that integrates with your system instead of relying on third-party plug-ins
A Simple Upgrade With Lasting Benefits
Switching to Wi-Fi timers is not a full system overhaul. It is a small change that makes a big difference in how your landscape lighting works day to day. For homeowners, it means no more trips outside to reset a dial and no more guessing when the lights will turn on. It also ensures your investment in lighting always performs as it should.
At Hamptons Landscape Lighting, we make this upgrade simple. If your system still relies on an old analog timer, now is the perfect time to bring your lighting into the modern age with reliable Wi-Fi control.
Contact Us Today To Schedule Your Upgrade!
Landscape Lighting That Brings Balance to a Newly Designed Estate
Hamptons Landscape Lighting transformed an Amagansett spec home with a layered design that highlights plantings, guides pathways, and creates an inviting outdoor retreat after dark. Working with TerraDesign and Home Technology Experts, HLL delivered dramatic downlighting, subtle driveway illumination, and functional beauty throughout the property.
When the owners purchased their 8,800-square-foot Amagansett home, they were immediately drawn to its modern finishes and clean architectural lines. What the property didn’t offer, however, was exterior lighting. With a $50,000 credit from the builder earmarked for landscape lighting, the stage was set for a transformation that would make the exterior just as inviting after dark as it was during the day.
The clients wanted the property to feel balanced, welcoming, and safe in the evening hours. That meant more than just illuminating the driveway and walkways. They envisioned a layered lighting design that would highlight the new landscape by TerraDesign, frame gathering areas, and create a nighttime atmosphere that felt both artistic and functional.
Timing was everything. The entire property was being relandscaped, which meant all fixtures, wiring, and infrastructure had to be installed in sync with planting. Downlighting added another layer of complexity, as fixtures needed to be carefully placed high in trees with heavy equipment while preserving the new landscape design. And with a two-month window before the clients’ spring move-in, every detail had to align perfectly.
Hamptons Landscape Lighting worked hand in hand with TerraDesign and Home Technology Experts to ensure every element of the plan came together seamlessly. Wiring was run during planting to minimize disruption, and fixtures were placed to enhance the natural beauty of the property while supporting function. Downlights positioned up to 30 feet in mature trees created depth and shadow, while subtle path and driveway lighting guided movement through the space. Gathering areas such as the pool, patios, and firepit were softly illuminated to invite evening use without overwhelming the landscape.
The finished design balanced artistry and practicality, transforming the property into a welcoming retreat after sunset. By blending lighting with the new plantings and architecture, the home now carries the same sense of sophistication and comfort outdoors that it does inside.
“Lighting isn’t just about visibility; it’s about composition,” says HLL designer Vanessa Kordich. “The downlighting created depth, while path and driveway illumination guided movement through the property. By layering these elements, we turned the landscape into a nighttime portrait of the home—both functional and beautiful.”
Every landscape has the potential to shine after dark.
Contact Us to design an outdoor lighting plan that enhances beauty, safety, & evening enjoyment.
Photography by
Elizabeth Leidel
A Welcome After Dark: Lighting a Coastal Landscape with Purpose
Discover how a Westhampton coastal property was transformed with elegant, low-maintenance outdoor lighting. See how design, durability, and detail created a seamless nighttime experience.
How do you create a lighting design that feels effortless, elegant, and built to last—especially along the coast?
For this Westhampton property, the answer was a thoughtfully layered lighting plan designed by Hampton Landscape Lighting lead designer Vanessa Kordich. Her goal was design that could guide, highlight, and evolve with time. What began as a simple desire for visibility and ambiance became a full-property strategy shaped by experience, collaboration, and a strong design point of view.
From the moment guests enter the curved driveway, layers of light gently reveal the landscape. Crepe myrtles are softly lit from below and above. Garden beds glow with precision. The fire pit zone flickers with Coastal Source tiki torches that blend ambiance with mosquito control. Even the stairway connecting two properties was reimagined mid-install to provide a more diffused, inviting effect.
Salt air, seasonal plantings, and finished surfaces brought technical challenges—but they also inspired creative solutions. The lighting team opted for Coastal Source fixtures, adjusted fixture types and layouts in real time. They also provided full as-built documentation so the system could grow with the landscape.
This project is a reminder that great lighting is more than just fixtures and footcandles. It’s how a space makes you feel after dark.
Ready to reimagine your own property with light? Hit the button below, give us a call at (631)259-3462 or send an email to sales@hamptonslandscapelighting.com.
Creating a Scene with Outdoor Lighting
Discover how layered outdoor lighting can transform your home's curb appeal and enhance safety. Learn more about how Hamptons Landscape Lighting's Lead Designer, Vanessa Kordich, uses architectural and artistic techniques to craft stunning nighttime scenes.
How thoughtful lighting design can transform your home's exterior into a work of art.
Some homes stop you in your tracks—and sometimes, it’s not just the architecture that steals your attention, but the way it’s illuminated. In this project, Vanessa Kordich, Hamptons Landscape Lighting Lead Designer, turned a quiet nighttime street view into a layered, dramatic scene that feels like something out of a painting.
Shot from the street to capture the full façade and surrounding trees, the photograph tells a story of light, depth, and deliberate design. What makes this scene so compelling isn’t just the glow—it’s the way each element is lit to create distinct visual layers that draw the viewer in and guide the eye naturally through the landscape.
Let’s break down how Vanessa used her background in architecture and fine art to compose this stunning scene:
The first layer begins with pathway lighting, subtly guiding your eye toward the home. Soft uplighting on the smaller trees closest to the front entry adds structure and contrast, creating a warm welcome and clear focal point.
The second layer comes from the dramatic canopy glow on the left. These lights are actually illuminating mature trees located on the side of the property—but what we see from this angle is just the lacy canopy, beautifully highlighted to extend the visual width of the scene and draw the eye upward.
And finally, the third layer: the ethereal lighting on the tree canopies above the home These trees are in the backyard. What’s remarkable is that the light used to illuminate them comes from behind the house, yet it creates a final, breathtaking silhouette that anchors the entire composition.
This isn’t just lighting—it’s spatial storytelling. Every angle, every fixture, and every glow was placed with intention to create rhythm, depth, and drama. Vanessa’s thoughtful placement of each fixture shapes how the home is experienced from the outside. Her ability to blend form, function, and feeling is what transforms simple landscapes into stunning nighttime environments.
Yes, this lighting enhances security and safety for the homeowner. But it also brings unparalleled curb appeal, and more importantly, creates a space the homeowners will want to enjoy every evening. It’s proof that with the right lighting design, your home can be both functional and completely unforgettable.
Ready to bring your home to life after dark?
Let our award-winning lighting designer craft custom lighting scenes for your property— scenes that will be as functional as they are unforgettable. Contact us to schedule a consultation and discover what’s possible with Hamptons Landscape Lighting.
The Art of Outdoor Illumination: Transforming Your Landscape with Light
At Hamptons Landscape Lighting, we believe that luxury is simplicity—and nothing captures that better than a beautifully illuminated landscape. In this blog, we explore how expert lighting design can turn your property into a glowing masterpiece after dark. From creating a resort-like ambiance to enhancing safety with sophisticated flair, discover how thoughtful lighting transforms your outdoor space into a work of art.
Imagine stepping into your backyard at night and being greeted by a breathtaking interplay of light and shadow—trees standing tall in golden hues, pathways subtly glowing underfoot, and architectural features elegantly highlighted. This isn’t just lighting—it’s an art form.
At Hamptons Landscape Lighting, we believe luxury is simplicity, and nothing exemplifies that more than a perfectly designed outdoor lighting plan.
Why Landscape Lighting Matters
A well-lit landscape does more than just enhance curb appeal; it elevates your entire outdoor experience. The right lighting transforms your space into a stunning nighttime retreat, making your home more welcoming, secure, and visually striking.
Create a Resort-Like Ambiance: Whether it's a poolside escape or an intimate garden lounge, professional lighting enhances the beauty of your outdoor space, allowing you to enjoy it well into the evening.
Showcase Your Property's Best Features: From towering trees to intricate garden designs, the right lighting brings out textures, depth, and contrast, making your home look like a masterpiece.
Enhance Security & Safety: A well-lit property deters intruders and provides safe passage along driveways, walkways, and steps without compromising aesthetics.
The Art of Lighting Design
Lighting is more than just function—it’s about creating emotion and atmosphere. Our approach is inspired by architectural lighting principles, ensuring that every beam of light feels intentional, natural, and effortless.
Layering Light for Depth & Drama
A single spotlight won’t do justice to a high-end property. Instead, we blend multiple techniques to achieve a stunning effect:
Uplighting: Accentuates the height and structure of trees, casting dramatic silhouettes.
Pathway & Step Lighting: Provides a soft, guiding glow for both aesthetics and safety.
Moonlighting: A subtle downlighting technique that mimics natural moonlight filtering through branches, creating a dreamy ambiance.
Water & Pool Lighting: Enhances reflections and brings an ethereal quality to water features.
Luxury is in the Details
Our designs are more than just practical—they’re poetic. Our team, led by a seasoned architectural lighting designer, treats each project like a canvas, ensuring your home is illuminated with precision and artistry.
Ready to elevate your home’s nighttime elegance?
Let’s design something extraordinary together. Schedule a consultation today!
CASE STUDY: ELEVATING OUTDOOR ELEGANCE IN EAST HAMPTON
For luxury homeowners in the Hamptons seeking expertly designed landscape lighting, this project showcases how the right lighting plan can turn an outdoor space into an elegant retreat.
Client & Project Background
Client: Homeowner
Location: East Hampton
Project Scope: Landscape Lighting designed by AOLP certified lighting specialist Vanessa Kordich for Hamptons Landscape Lighting. Whole-home automation and interior lighting designed and installed for the home by Home Technology Experts with HTE Designer, Rhys Wescott. This case study will focus on the landscape lighting.
The Challenge
Nestled at the end of a secluded, dark street, our client’s East Hampton property lacked the welcoming ambiance they envisioned for their outdoor spaces. Their primary goal was to achieve a stunning, well-lit outdoor environment that seamlessly blended elegance with functionality.
However, they had specific concerns:
Aesthetics – They wanted fixtures that would enhance, not overpower, the property’s natural beauty.
Glare Control – Preserving the serenity of their surroundings by minimizing light pollution while still maintaining effective illumination.
Design Constraints – The towering 80’+ mature oak trees at the perimeter of the property presented both a challenge and an opportunity for the lighting design.
The Solution
To achieve the desired ambiance, we implemented a meticulously crafted lighting plan utilizing Dauer Lighting Landscape Products, chosen for their superior aesthetics and energy efficiency.
Key solutions included:
Strategic Fixture Placement – We carefully positioned each light to enhance key landscape features while ensuring even illumination across the property.
Glare Management – Through the use of extended glare guards and multiple onsite tests, we minimized light pollution and ensured a soft, natural glow.
Collaboration for Seamless Integration – Working closely with the landscape design team, we ensured that the lighting complemented the plant material and hardscape elements. Additionally, we coordinated with electricians to guarantee a smooth and efficient installation process.
“As shown in the imagery above; by accentuating the large Oaks at the property’s border we were able to create a stunning layering of light in the foreground and background; this effect was quite spectacular and not only enhanced the clients views from the house but also created an expansive, open fee making the property appear larger and more inviting. ”
The Outcome
The transformation was remarkable. The final lighting design delivered a soft, sophisticated glow that enhanced both the aesthetic appeal and usability of the property’s outdoor spaces. Key benefits included:
Extended Outdoor Enjoyment – The homeowner now enjoys their outdoor spaces well into the evening.
Enhanced Security – Increased visibility has improved safety and peace of mind.
Boosted Curb Appeal – The illuminated landscape highlights the best features of the property, making it a true showpiece after dark.
“I really enjoyed having the pleasure of collaborating with an exceptional landscape designer and the client’s vision to create a blend of beautiful textures and depths from the diverse onsite foliage. ”
Though exact metrics are pending, the impact is undeniable—the client has significantly increased their time spent in their outdoor spaces at night, thanks to the warm and inviting lighting design.
For homeowners seeking the perfect balance of elegance, functionality, and seamless integration, this East Hampton project is a shining example of how expert lighting design can elevate any outdoor space.
Elevating Excellence: Our Team Earns AOLP Certification
We’re thrilled to announce that two of our talented team members have recently earned their certification from the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP)—a prestigious credential that sets the gold standard in the industry.
At Hamptons Landscape Lighting, we believe that true luxury is in the details. That’s why we’re committed to staying at the forefront of outdoor lighting design, ensuring that every project we take on reflects the highest level of craftsmanship, artistry, and technical expertise.
We’re thrilled to announce that two of our talented team members have recently earned their certification from the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP)—a prestigious credential that sets the gold standard in the industry.
What This Certification Means
The AOLP certification process is rigorous, requiring in-depth knowledge of lighting design principles, electrical safety, installation best practices, and advanced troubleshooting techniques. Earning this designation means our team members have demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment to the craft of architectural and landscape lighting.
For our clients, this means:
✅ Unparalleled expertise in designing outdoor lighting that enhances beauty, security, and ambiance.
✅ Seamless integration of artistic lighting solutions into any landscape, architecture, or outdoor space.
✅ The highest industry standards, ensuring lasting performance and energy-efficient installations.
Meet Our Newly Certified Experts
We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to Vanessa Kordich and Rhys Wescott for achieving this milestone. Their dedication to honing their craft and bringing the best lighting solutions to our clients is truly inspiring.
"This certification reinforces our commitment to creating breathtaking, functional outdoor lighting that transforms spaces. The training has deepened our understanding of how light interacts with landscape elements, and we’re excited to apply these skills to our upcoming projects!" – Vanessa Kordich
Why This Matters for Hamptons Homeowners & Trade Partners
As the leading luxury landscape lighting provider in the Hamptons, we work with homeowners, designers, architects, and builders to create custom lighting solutions that elevate outdoor spaces. With our newly certified team members, we’re bringing even more expertise to the table—ensuring that every lighting design we deliver is not only stunning but also built to last.
Experience the Difference of Expertly Designed Outdoor Lighting
Whether you’re looking to enhance your estate’s curb appeal, illuminate a backyard oasis, or add subtle security lighting, our certified professionals are ready to bring your vision to life.
Let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how professional outdoor lighting can transform your space.