Anyone have any feedback on solar yard lights?

mrsgoetz2010

I want to put lights in our landscaping beds this year, and I thought about using the solar lighting option because they would obviously be easy to install and they would be easy to move if I chose to do so, however I am wondering about how well they work...

Does anyone have solar landscaping lights and are you satisfied with them or not?

pixieprincss

I thought about it, but then I became concerned that the light would disturb the nighttime wildlife (like bats to eat mosquitoes). I'll be interested to hear what others say.

nitaw

It depends on what kind of solar light output you're looking for. If you just want some lights to light a walkway path or spotlight type to light the front of your house. We have solar lights in the flower beds and really, the lighting output isn't the greatest. We've had to replace a few lights since they've stopped working. But overall, they could be better. As far as distiurbing wildlife, the light output is minimal. The frogs and other critters don't seem to be bothered by the lights.

Dr.Loretta

We got some decent ones at Home Depot about 3-4 years ago and they worked out well. They're crapping out this year (a lot of damage from snow/ice/etc.) so we're looking for a new batch this spring.

kristinemarie7

We bought some from Home Depot ~2 years ago and they've worked out well. I've recently noticed that one of them doesn't appear to be as bright as the others but we leave them out all winter in the snow. In the summer when we have clear days, they will still be on the next morning.

melsie

we bought some about 3 years ago and i guess the weather here is really hard on them since the solar panel part is starting to get "foggy" and the lights are much dimmer now.

definitely try to keep them away from mowing and edging areas since they are a bugger trying to trim around. DH hit one very gently with the edge of the weed-wacker and broke the stem on one the first year we "installed" them. 

that all being said, they are great for our pathway to the house. since it isn't straight and there are 2 sets of stairs (one at the side walk and one at the porch) it is plenty of dull light to keep you on the path, not enough to read by or anything like that. but like PP stated, the light is dull enough that the mosquitoes, lightening bugs and other critters don't seem bothered by it at all. 

hayleydeee

Plan on replacing the rechargeable batteries every once and a while (which is pricer than regular batteries). The are basically the same brightness as a keychain light, so that's a good way to gauge it. I like the white ones better than the orange. 

With the ones we have, I've found that you really "get what you pay for". The one that I spent the most on (a multiple bulb spot light) is my favorite. Also they obviously don't work as well if it was a cloudy day. 

mrsgoetz2010

Thanks so much for all of your input!  I think we will give them a try this year - sounds like most of you are pretty satisfied with them.  We aren't looking for anything bright...just a little bit of soft lighting in the flower beds and along a walk way possibly so I think they should work!  Thanks again!

Mrs.JulesH-S

We Had them and just threw them out after about 2 years because they were falling apart.  But they were only about $40 at Home Depot so no big deal.