Solar Garden Lights in Autumn and Winter: A Practical UK Guide
Share
Solar garden lights are one of the easiest ways to add a warm glow to a patio or border, with no wiring and no running costs. In the UK, though, autumn and winter bring shorter days and a lower sun, so it helps to set them up with that in mind.
What to expect in winter
Solar lights charge from daylight, so in the darker months they will usually collect less energy and glow for fewer hours than in summer. That is normal. The tips below help you get as much light as possible from the daylight you do have.
1. Give the panel the brightest spot
Position lights so the solar panel faces south where possible and is not shaded by fences, walls or evergreen shrubs for most of the day. A spot that was sunny in June may be in shadow by November, when the sun sits much lower in the sky, so it is worth checking again in autumn.
2. Keep the panels clean
Dust, leaves and bird droppings can noticeably reduce charging. Wipe the panel with a damp cloth every few weeks through autumn and winter.
3. Keep them away from other lights
Most solar lights switch on automatically when it gets dark. If one sits right next to a porch light or street lamp, it may think it is still daytime and stay off.
4. Let them fully charge after a dull spell
After several grey days in a row, lights may only glow briefly. A couple of brighter days usually brings them back to normal. If you are not using them for a while, switching them off (if there is a switch) helps the battery build up charge.
Our favourite solar lights for darker evenings
- Hanging solar crackle glass light: 30 warm white LEDs behind crackle glass, lovely hung from a tree or pergola.
- Solar hanging moon light chime, star light chime and sun light chime: decorative hanging lights that double as wind chimes.
- Solar owl with lantern, solar Labrador and solar cat: characterful ornaments that light up a doorstep or patio.
- Solar rabbit garden statue and solar rabbit bird bath: a gentle glow for borders.