Brilliance Care: Protecting Landscape Lighting with Smart Maintenance and Collaboration
At Hamptons Landscape Lighting, we take pride not only in the design and installation of your outdoor lighting system, but also in its long-term health and care. Even the most carefully installed systems can be vulnerable, especially when other work is being done in the landscape or seasonal weather changes occur. One of the most common service calls we receive involves damaged wires, often caused during routine gardening, planting, or when heavy machinery is brought in for seasonal or structural projects.
For homeowners, these issues are both frustrating and avoidable. A professionally designed lighting system represents a significant investment, yet suddenly part of it may stop working. In many cases, the cause is hidden underground: a severed wire, cut unintentionally by landscapers working near garden edges or rototilling without realizing lighting infrastructure was present.
“We bury all of our wires at the industry standard of six inches and follow best practices to avoid exposure. But even with those precautions, whenever the ground is disturbed—especially around borders and beds—wires are at risk. We’ve even seen entire systems disrupted by machines turning up soil.”
The good news? With clear communication and a little collaboration, most of this damage can be prevented.
Best Practices for Landscaping Teams
We value our partnerships with landscaping professionals who keep outdoor spaces looking their best. To help protect lighting systems, a few simple steps can make all the difference:
Look for Nearby Fixtures
If you see a fixture, assume wiring may be close by. Many runs are placed along bed perimeters or just beneath mulch lines.Review As-Builts When Available
As-built lighting plans outline the exact locations of wires, transformers, and fixtures, an invaluable reference before digging or planting.Reach Out Before Starting Work
A quick call to our team can prevent costly damage. Five minutes of communication can save hours of repair.Flag Sensitive Areas
We can mark or provide indicators for areas with buried wiring, especially around new plantings or irrigation changes.Encourage Enrollment in Brilliance Care
Our Brilliance Care program includes regular system checks, priority service, and inspections after major landscaping work, helping homeowners protect their investment.
When a wire is cut, the results are immediate. Fixtures stop working and the design impact is lost. We know it’s frustrating for clients. Our goal is never to assign blame, but to prevent the disruption before it happens.
Why This Matters
Outdoor lighting is more than illumination. It enhances ambiance, safety, curb appeal, and the value of a home. While repairing damage requires time, coordination, and money, preventing it only requires foresight and teamwork. By working hand-in-hand with our landscaping partners, we ensure lighting systems remain just as stunning and functional as the day they were installed.
Brilliance Care
If you’re a landscaping professional and want to learn more about how to coordinate with our team, or if you’re a homeowner who wants to enroll in Brilliance Care, reach out today. Let’s keep your outdoor spaces shining—together.
Fall has arrived. For many of us, that makes considering the outdoors the least of our issues once we’ve covered the spigots to prevent freezing and prepared the salt for icy winter mornings.
What you may not be thinking of is your outdoor lighting. But this is the perfect time to consider preventive maintenance or even a full interior lighting design overhaul.