Moonlighting
by NightLight Pros
Moonlighting is the most naturalistic technique in landscape lighting — fixtures mounted 15 to 30 feet up in the tree canopy, aimed downward to recreate the effect of moonlight filtering through leaves. The result is soft, dappled light on the ground below with moving shadow patterns that shift with the breeze. No two trees cast the same light.
South Florida is ideal for moonlighting. Our mature live oaks, banyan trees, sea grapes, and large tropical canopy create exactly the kind of layered coverage the technique requires. A single fixture mounted 20–25 feet up in a mature live oak can illuminate a 40-foot diameter circle of ground with a naturalistic glow that no ground-mounted fixture can replicate. Combined with conventional uplighting on the same tree, the effect is extraordinary — the tree reads as three-dimensional rather than flat.
The limitation is installation access. Mounting fixtures safely at 20–30 feet requires professional equipment — we don't compromise on that. The mounting hardware is also critical: stainless steel tree mounts that won't damage the tree, with UV-resistant cable routed cleanly through the canopy. Every moonlighting installation is carefully verified before we leave — mounting hardware, cable routing, and fixture aim are all confirmed on-site.
Moonlighting works best over outdoor living areas — patios, pool decks, covered lanais — where you'll experience the effect from below. It's one of the most requested upgrades on properties we've previously installed conventional uplighting on, because once homeowners see the difference, they can't unsee it.
Get a Free Quote