Plan lighting and landscaping at the same time so you know where wire runs and fixtures need to be. Then place the fixtures after the landscaping work is complete and adjust based on what you see.
You might have a landscaping project underway, and you're already thinking about lighting. This is good, and it's a good idea to plan lighting and landscaping at the same time. Planning should happen early. But placement of fixtures needs to happen after the landscaping goes in, because sometimes things don't go according to the sketch, and fixtures might need adjusting.
Plan the lighting at the design stage of the project. Do this before sod, patios, and beds are set. That is when wire runs and conduit can be roughed in with almost no disruption. Once everything is planted and poured, adding lighting is still possible, it just means cutting back into new turf and beds. Doable, but nobody enjoys paying for the same work twice.
Fixtures should be placed after landscaping is done. That's because lighting doesn't always go according to plan, and you want to make sure each fixture is pointed the way it should be based on real conditions and not the initial design plan. This is how you make sure lights flatter your garden beds or mature trees.
When it comes time to do the lighting, start with the house and the architecture. Then layer in plant and path lighting second. It always helps to coordinate with landscapers early, because this means the wire runs will be clear of irrigation lines and drainage. This is a cheap problem to avoid and an expensive one to fix after the fact.
Spring and summer are the perfect time of year for this kind of project. Wire burial and fixture setting go faster since the ground is warm. That means a project that starts alongside the landscaping usually finishes cleanly.
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives works alongside a homeowner or their landscaper to plan sightlines and rough in the runs early. Then they come back to finalize placement once the yard is ready. If you have landscaping underway or on the calendar, start with a design consultation or call (440) 336-8650.