One of the most common questions after a homeowner approves a landscape lighting proposal: how long is this going to take, and what do I need to do to prepare? The short answers: most residential installations in Central Florida complete in one day, and you need to prepare almost nothing. Here's the full picture, phase by phase.
Before installation day: the walkthrough and design phase
Before any landscape lighting installation, a quality contractor will conduct an evening walkthrough on your property, after dark, not in daylight. This isn't optional and it isn't the same as a daytime site visit. Landscape lighting planned in daylight frequently produces results that don't match the homeowner's expectations once the sun goes down because the relationship between fixture angle, beam spread, and a lit subject at night cannot be accurately judged in full ambient light.
During the walkthrough, the contractor identifies anchor features (trees, architectural elements, garden focal points, entry paths), discusses the effect you want for each, and develops a fixture-by-fixture plan on-site. The proposal you receive afterward is itemized: each fixture, its location, the cable zone it feeds from, and the transformer configuration.
Timeline: 45–90 minutes for the walkthrough. Proposal delivery: 2–5 business days after.
Installation day: the four phases
A mid-size residential installation (15–25 fixtures) runs 6–8 hours for a two-person crew. Larger projects (30+ fixtures) often extend across two days. Here's what each phase involves.
Phase 1: Transformer installation (30–60 minutes)
The low-voltage transformer mounts to an exterior wall near a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet, typically positioned near the main electrical panel or in a convenient service location. If no suitable outdoor outlet exists, that's a licensed electrician's task to complete before installation day. The transformer mounting, initial cable routing, and timer programming happen in this phase.
Phase 2: Cable layout and burial (1–2 hours)
Low-voltage cable runs from the transformer to each fixture zone, buried 6–8 inches in planting beds, along lawn edges, and across open areas where cable must cross. In established Florida landscapes with extensive root systems or dense irrigation grids, cable routing requires additional care to avoid irrigation lines and surface roots. This phase is largely invisible in the finished installation. No cable should be visible at grade after completion.
Any contractor who doesn't ask for an irrigation system map or locate heads before running cable is taking an avoidable risk. We locate all irrigation heads and map the system before burying anything near them.
Phase 3: Fixture installation (2–4 hours)
Each fixture is positioned, connected to the cable run, and roughly aimed based on the walkthrough plan. At this stage, aim is approximate. The precision aiming session happens after dark. Florida's sandy soil makes fixture stake installation faster than in clay or rocky conditions, which helps on larger projects. Each fixture connection is made with waterproof connectors rated for direct burial.
Phase 4: Daytime programming (30 minutes)
The transformer timer or astronomical clock is programmed for your location and preferred schedule. Zone assignments are confirmed and labeled. If the system uses a smart controller, Wi-Fi connection and app setup happen here, and the homeowner is walked through the app interface before the crew leaves.
The nighttime aiming session: the most important phase of the installation
After dark on installation day, or the following evening if the installation finishes close to sunset, the crew returns for the aiming session. Every fixture is adjusted: angle, beam spread, and precise position relative to the target, based on what the lit subject actually looks like at night with no competing ambient light.
This is not a final walkthrough to confirm lights are on. It's a substantive design session that typically runs 60–90 minutes and determines the quality of the finished result. Plan to be present. The aiming session is where you direct the outcome: how dramatic or subtle each tree should be, whether the facade wash is even or emphasizes a specific architectural feature, whether pathway fixtures light the path surface or the planting alongside it. The installer executes; you give direction.
What you actually need to prepare
Almost nothing. Confirm that the outdoor outlet powering the transformer is working and GFCI-protected. Secure pets inside on installation day, both for their safety and to keep dogs out of open cable trenches. That's it. You don't need to mark irrigation lines, move furniture, or clear planting beds unless specific areas have been discussed during the walkthrough.
The first 30 days after installation
Florida's sandy soil settles quickly, particularly in areas with active irrigation. In the first two to four weeks, some fixture stakes may migrate slightly as soil compacts around them. A follow-up check at 30 days is standard practice on Bright Arbor installations: we verify fixture aim, check cable depth at any disturbed areas, and confirm all connector integrity before closing the project file.
Most homeowners also fine-tune their schedule in the first week or two, discovering the system runs later than they want, or that they'd like an early-morning scene for security that wasn't in the original design. Schedule adjustments are simple on smart systems and straightforward on traditional transformers.
Bright Arbor installs landscape lighting across Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Mary, Windermere, and throughout Greater Central Florida. Schedule a consultation to start with an evening walkthrough.