Landscape lighting is a great way to enhance the beauty of your outdoor space in North Carolina. There are several popular techniques that you can use to create a stunning effect, including wall-washing, silhouette lighting, moonlighting, and uplighting. Wall-washing involves placing lights at the base of a wall or fence to create a wash of light that highlights the texture and color of the surface. Silhouette lighting involves placing lights behind an object to create a dramatic shadow effect. Moonlighting involves placing lights high up in trees to create a soft, natural glow that mimics the effect of moonlight. Uplighting involves placing lights at the base of trees, shrubs, or other objects to create a dramatic effect. By using these techniques, you can create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space that you can enjoy day or night.
Highlight Walls & Structures With Wall-Washing

Wall-washing is a lighting technique designed to showcase the texture and color of vertical surfaces like walls, fences, and architectural features. By placing fixtures at the base or top of a surface and angling the light upward or downward, the illumination spreads evenly across the area, creating a soft glow rather than harsh shadows. This approach works especially well on stone, brick, or other textured materials, helping them stand out after dark. In addition to visual appeal, wall-washing can also brighten darker areas around your home, adding both depth and a subtle sense of security.
Create Bold Visual Contrast With Silhouette Lighting
Silhouette lighting takes a more dramatic approach by emphasizing shape rather than surface detail. Lights are positioned behind trees, shrubs, or other focal elements, allowing the object to stand out as a dark outline against a softly lit background. This technique draws attention to interesting forms and creates strong visual contrast, making it ideal for statement plants or unique landscape features. Silhouette lighting adds intrigue and depth, helping transform your outdoor space into a visually engaging nighttime environment.
Moonlighting is a popular landscape lighting technique.
Moonlighting is all about subtlety and atmosphere. Fixtures are installed high in trees and aimed downward to replicate the gentle glow of natural moonlight. The light filters through branches and leaves, casting soft patterns across the ground below. This landscape lighting technique creates a calm, inviting setting that feels natural and unforced. Moonlighting can also improve nighttime visibility along walkways and open areas without overpowering the landscape, blending beauty with practicality.
Add Drama & Focus With Strategic Uplighting
Uplighting places fixtures at ground level and directs light upward to accentuate trees, columns, archways, and other vertical elements. This technique adds visual height and draws the eye upward, making features appear more striking after sunset. When spaced properly, uplighting enhances texture and form while creating a sense of depth throughout the landscape. It also helps illuminate darker areas, contributing to both curb appeal and nighttime visibility.
Give us a call today to schedule our landscape lighting service.
At Greenway Irrigation, we offer a reliable landscape lighting service to residential property owners in Cary, NC, and nearby areas like Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Our team will visit your property to install a custom landscape lighting system that meets the unique needs of your landscape. We'll ensure that your system is installed correctly and efficiently to keep your landscape illuminated. Our landscape lighting systems utilize energy-efficient LED bulbs, and we can also install a smart controller to automate your system. Give us a call today at (919) 217-4340 to schedule our landscape lighting service and keep your landscape bright and beautiful all night long.
