Mixing wired and solar is pretty much what I landed on too. I tried going all solar at first—looked great for a week, then half of them started dying off. Turns out some brands just don’t hold up, even if the neighbor’s do. If you’re running wires, I’d say map out exactly where you want things first... digging up the yard twice is no fun. And yeah, you never know what you’ll find underground—my yard’s full of old bricks for some reason.
digging up the yard twice is no fun. And yeah, you never know what you’ll find underground—my yard’s full of old bricks for some reason.
Totally hear you on the “treasure hunt” aspect—last time I ran wire, I hit what I swear was an old metal toy car. Mapping everything first is key, but I’ll admit I still winged a few spots and paid for it later. For solar, I’ve found the panels need way more direct sun than the box claims… even a little shade and they’re toast by midweek. Wired is more work upfront but way less hassle long-term.
- Totally agree about solar panels being picky—shade from a neighbor’s tree killed half my lights last summer.
- Wired is a pain to install, but you can actually control the look and placement way better.
- If you’re worried about digging, have you looked at low-voltage systems? Less trenching, and they’re safer if you hit something weird underground.
- I’ve also seen people use string lights with outdoor-rated extension cords—less permanent, but super flexible if you like to change things up.
- Totally agree about solar panels being picky—shade from a neighbor’s tree killed half my lights last summer.
Wires can be intimidating, but I totally get what you mean about controlling the look. With my old fence, I actually sketched out where I wanted light pools before running any cable—helped me avoid regrets later. Low-voltage systems are a game changer for older properties like mine, since digging deep is a no-go with all the roots and old brick. And string lights? They’re like instant magic, especially for gatherings. Don’t stress too much about finding the “perfect” solution—sometimes it’s a mix that works best.
Honestly, mapping out your light pools first is such a smart move—wish I'd done that instead of winging it with my first install. Low-voltage really is a lifesaver when you’re dealing with old landscaping or weird underground surprises. I get the appeal of solar, but yeah, even a bit of shade can mess things up fast. Mixing string lights with wired spots worked for me—keeps things flexible and you don’t have to commit to one look forever. Sometimes the “imperfect” setup ends up being the most inviting anyway.
