The Complete LED Landscape Lighting Guide
for South Florida

If you're planning a landscape lighting installation — or upgrading an existing halogen system — understanding LED technology will save you money, help you ask better questions, and protect you from being sold fixtures that won't perform in South Florida's climate.

This is the guide I wish existed when my father and I started doing this work. No jargon. No upselling. Just the things you actually need to know.

LED vs. Halogen: Why the Switch Is Complete

Halogen dominated landscape lighting for decades. Today it's effectively finished. Here's the honest comparison:

Factor	LED	Halogen
Energy use	3–7 watts per fixture	20–50 watts per fixture
Lifespan	significantly longer than halogen	2,000 hours
Heat output	Minimal — safe for plants	High — can scorch foliage
Color quality	Excellent at 2700–3000K	Good (warm by default)
Transformer load	1 transformer handles 3x more fixtures	Higher wattage = more transformers
Replacement cost	Rarely needed	Frequent bulb changes required

The only reason someone would still install halogen in 2026 is cost — some contractors use cheap halogen fixtures to underbid. The short-term savings evaporate in the first two years through electricity costs and bulb replacements. We install LED on every project.

Color Temperature: The Most Important Decision

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). Lower numbers are warmer (amber/gold). Higher numbers are cooler (blue-white). This is the single most impactful technical decision in any landscape lighting project, and it's one most homeowners are never properly educated on.

Fixture Ratings: What Survives South Florida

South Florida's climate is genuinely demanding: high humidity year-round, salt air within miles of the coast, intense UV radiation, hurricane-force winds, and temperatures that swing from 45°F in January to 95°F in August. Not all fixtures are built for this.

IP Rating (Ingress Protection)

IP ratings have two digits: the first rates protection against solids (dust/debris), the second rates protection against water. For landscape lighting in South Florida:

• IP65 minimum for all above-ground fixtures
• IP67 or IP68 for fixtures near water features, irrigation zones, or areas that flood
• IP68 required for true underwater fixtures

Box-store landscape lights are typically IP44 or IP54 — adequate for mild climates, not for ours. They fail within 1–3 years in South Florida conditions.

Construction Material

• Solid brass: Best corrosion resistance, develops a natural patina, essentially lifetime durability. Premium cost justified for permanent installations.
• Marine-grade aluminum: Excellent for coastal properties when properly anodized. Lighter than brass. Our second choice.
• Composite/plastic: Avoid. UV degradation causes cracking and yellowing within 2–3 Florida summers.
• Zinc die-cast: Common in mid-range fixtures. Acceptable inland; will corrode near the coast within a few years.

Beam Spreads: The Science of Aim

Beam spread is measured in degrees — the angle of the light cone from a fixture. Choosing the wrong beam spread is one of the most common installation mistakes, even by professionals.

• 10°–15° (narrow spot): Palm trunks, architectural columns, tall narrow subjects. Creates a tight, dramatic vertical column of light.
• 25°–35° (spot): Medium trees, specimen shrubs, focused architectural features. The workhorse beam spread.
• 45°–60° (flood): Wide tree canopies, hedges, large architectural surfaces. Covers a broad area.
• 60°–120° (wide flood): Ground coverage, lawn washing, wide hardscape areas. Use sparingly — creates flat, even illumination with little drama.

A common mistake: using wide floods on everything because it's easier to aim. The result is even, flat illumination that lacks depth. Precision — using narrow beams on vertical subjects and reserving wide angles for horizontal coverage — is what separates professional results from DIY results.

Wattage and Transformer Sizing

LED fixtures are rated in watts. The total wattage of all fixtures on a circuit determines transformer size. Rules to follow:

• Calculate total wattage across all fixtures on each transformer circuit
• Load the transformer to maximum 60–70% of rated capacity
• A 150W transformer loaded at 65% = 97.5W usable = roughly 15–20 LED fixtures at 5W each
• Never run at 100% — it shortens transformer life and causes voltage drop to distant fixtures

Voltage drop is a real problem in larger systems. Fixtures at the end of a long cable run receive less voltage than those near the transformer, causing dim or yellow light. Professional solutions: multiple transformer zones, heavier gauge wire, or daisy-chaining loops rather than single runs.

South Florida-Specific Considerations

Sea Turtle Guidelines

If your property is within a mile of the coast, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission guidelines apply. Key rules: use amber/red-spectrum fixtures (590nm+), shield fixtures to prevent beach-directed spill, and minimize upward light scatter. We design all coastal installations in compliance with FWC guidelines — ask us about sea-turtle-friendly fixture options.

Hurricane Preparation

Quality landscape fixtures are designed to withstand high winds. But ground-mounted spotlights can be shifted by storm surge, flying debris, and soil movement. After any major hurricane, we recommend an inspection and re-aiming service. Well-installed fixtures with deep stakes rarely need more than re-aiming.

Plant Growth Rate

South Florida plants grow fast. A fixture aimed at a 4-foot croton this year will be aiming at a trunk in two years. Annual re-aiming is part of proper landscape lighting maintenance here — budget for it.