When installing lighting and power outdoors its best to keep in mind that waterproofing any of the electric work is essential as they will be under attack from all sorts of harsh weather.

When you are running cables from the home they must be protected from damage, rain or sun. In order to do this the cable should be buried or run in a conduit. Exposure to the sun can often damage wires and they tend to split meaning the cable life will not only be short but it will also lead to faults in circuits. If you cannot avoid direct exposure it is best to use black cables as they are more resistant to UV rays.

If the cables are being buried they need to be buried into the ground at least ½ meter and marked with cable covers. These buried cables should then be noted on diagrams so that they can be found if the garden is due to change. If this is not noted they could be forgot about and could lead to serious problems as well as long delays with the new garden.

Many home owners use extension leads when carrying out work outside their homes and this is often dangerous as there is a risk of falls or accidentally cutting the power supply. It is recommended that you install outdoor power points as it is much safer.  These power points are specifically designed for outdoor use as they are made of waterproof material.