Short answer: run the wire, sleeves and power points for landscape lighting before the sod, beds and hardscape go down. Doing it in that order means nobody digs up a finished yard later. Fixtures start from $195 each, and our estimate is free.
The problem with doing it last
A new home in Gwinnett usually goes through the same order. Grading, then the house, then the hardscape, then irrigation, then sod and plants. Lighting is often an afterthought, tacked on once the yard looks done. By then the sod is rolled, the beds are mulched and the patio is poured. Every wire run now means trenching through something that was just finished.
Red clay makes it harder. It packs hard, dries like brick and does not forgive a shallow trench. Cutting through new sod leaves seams that can look patchy for a season. Trenching under a new walkway is a different job than sleeving beneath it before the base goes in.
What goes in early
| Stage | What lighting needs | Why it is easier early |
|---|---|---|
| Rough grading | Locate the transformer spot and outlet | Power can be placed where it is hidden |
| Hardscape | Sleeves under walks, drives and patios | Wire passes under without cutting |
| Retaining walls and steps | Wire and mounting points for step and wall lights | Fixtures sit flush, wire is hidden |
| Irrigation | Plan wire and pipe trenches together | One trench instead of two |
| Beds and sod | Final fixtures and aiming | The yard is finished, only the dusk work remains |
A simple build order
- Decide where people walk, sit and park. Lighting follows use.
- Pick a transformer location on an exterior outlet that is not shared with something heavy.
- Mark the runs to path, entry, patio, trees and walls.
- Add sleeves wherever a run crosses concrete, pavers or a driveway.
- Lay the wire with the irrigation trench where the paths line up.
- Leave fixtures off until the sod and beds are done. Aim them last.
- Set final aim at dusk. A new yard looks very different after the plants settle.
Why sprinklers and lights should be planned together
Irrigation and low-voltage lighting both need trenches, and both can be damaged by the other. A pipe nicked by a shovel and a wire cut by a spade are the two most common ways we find new-build yards in trouble. If the plans are made together, the wire and pipe stay apart on purpose, and the heads do not spray directly on the fixtures. See our installation page for how we handle the pipe side. A full irrigation system starts from $3,500.
What it costs to plan ahead
Planning costs nothing. Our estimate is free and on site. Landscape lighting starts from $195 per fixture, and you can decide how many fixtures and where. The big saving is not in the fixtures. It is the trenching, patching and re-laying you avoid. We design at dusk on your property and offer a live demo before you commit, so you see the beams before the wire is buried.
For wet or low spots, we offer lifetime-brass fixture options, which hold up better in clay and sprinkler spray than thin shells.
What if the yard is already finished
It still works. Wire can be run under mulch beds, along edges and under existing walks with the right tools. It just takes longer. If you can plan the lighting before the finish work, do that. If you cannot, we can still light the yard.
Questions to ask your builder
Ask who is responsible for sleeves under the driveway and walks. Ask when the grading is final and when the sod date is. Ask whether the builder will leave a spot for a transformer on an exterior outlet. Ask the irrigation contractor where main lines will run. Short answers early save a lot of redoing. We can walk the lot with you and the builder, mark the runs and tell you what must be in place before the sod arrives.
When to call us
Call before the sod goes down, ideally before the hardscape. We can walk the lot with your builder and mark the runs. We are family-owned, licensed and insured, and we offer same-day service. See our landscape lighting design page and our gallery.
FAQ
Should landscape lighting go in before the sod? The wire and sleeves should. Fixtures can go in last and be aimed at dusk.
Can lighting wire share a trench with irrigation? Often yes, if the two are kept apart on purpose. We plan them together.
How much does landscape lighting cost? Landscape lighting starts from $195 per fixture. The estimate is free.
Can I add lighting after the yard is finished? Yes. It takes more careful digging, but it can be done without redoing the lawn.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026.