© 2026 The Garden Gate & Artistic Pools & Spas. All rights reserved.
Made by Deadon Agency.
At The Garden Gate, we install LED landscape lighting in Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley. On a new construction projects the landscape plan will identify the location of all light fixtures - for the patios, paths, key plants, and to highlight architectural features.
For existing homes, we can provide a lighting plan or we can walk the property and identify areas where LED lights can improve access or create a dramatic look. Fixture placement can easily be changed by extending the lighting wire.
We install path lights, step lights, up lights and down lights selectively to improve access, highlight trees, rock outcroppings and other features. We improve safety and security and enhance curb appeal while complying with HOA and dark sky regulations.
See our approach
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Everyproject is planned around your property, goals, budget, Homeowners Association(HOA) or Design Review Committee (DRC) guidelines, as wellas local rulesand regulations. With 25 years of design and installation experience servingthe greater Tucson area—including Marana and Oro Valley—we deliver a simple,stress-free process for our clients. Every plan is buildable, HOA-ready, andpriced accurately from day one.
Ourcustom front and backyard designs can include:
Sonoran Desert-friendlyor specialty plants, grouped for water efficiency, with drip irrigation and decorative screened rock.
We integrate smart controls, salt-water chlorination systems, color-changinglights, and integrated water walls or bubblers, as well as Baja shelves (alsocalled a tanning ledge or “lagoon” locally), umbrellas, and swim-up bars orin-pool tables and seating.
FromBBQ islands designed for resale value to full outdoor kitchens forentertaining, we place grills, griddles, and pizza ovens to fit the flow ofyour backyard. If you like to entertain, a fire feature adds seating and afocal point.
Code-compliantpool fencing that preserves views, custom steel pergolas and shade structuresfor comfort from the desert sun, trellises to guide vines or screen views, andmetal gates for privacy and security—all integrated into the design.
Our turnkey approach todesign and installation can also include patios, driveways, walkways, retainingwalls, seating walls, and screen walls to hide mechanical equipment (like apool pump), planned with drainage and access in mind.
Path, up-lighting,and down-lighting designed to highlight plants and architecture, creatingambiance.
Year-round,low-maintenance grass solutions for play areas, pets, or entertainment spaces.
Gas,electric, irrigation, and lighting systems are coordinated into one cohesivebuild.
AutoCADdrawings and 3D renderings that ensure accuracy, clarity, and confidence.
High quality LED landscape lighting is more than the fixture itself, it’s about improving your backyard experience after sunset and creating useable space in a dark backyard.
Dimly lit steps and paths are safer with integrated lighting. Both path and step lights are aimed downward, lighting the space and protecting your eyes from glare.
Up lighting for trees, cacti, columns, and architectural features direct the light where it’s needed. LED light shrouds are an essential component of the light fixture. The shroud is located at the end of the light fixture where it minimizes glare and focuses light on the intended target.
Down lights are often placed in trees above dark areas or used to highlight plants under the tree canopy. A creative source of light for driveways and paths, requiring fewer path lights.
We typically use wider angle "wall wash" lights to illuminate walls, larger planting spaces and rock outcroppings where focused light might not be appropriate.
Performance, efficiency, and control in one package - designed to meet HOA and regulatory guidelines. While standard low voltage lighting is available, we recommend LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. LED bulbs are longer lasting, useless energy and better direct the light. More expensive than standard fixtures, the overall cost is lower as LED bulbs can last 15,000 + hours while the standard incandescent bulbs average 1,000 hours.
To correctly size a transformer, you should always calculate the total wattage and multiply that by 1.20 to 1.25. Running a transformer at 80% of capacity ensures longevity and efficiency and prevents overload.
LED transformers with built in controls and scene capabilities (Smart Controllers) allow for dimming, color adjustment (on certain fixtures) and scheduling via an app.
Pima County has a strong dark sky ordinance to reduce light pollution through the use of shielded fixtures and warm toned lighting. When preparing landscape design, we consider these regulations in the selection and placement of fixtures.
Arizona’s climate is tough on outdoor systems – we select light fixtures proven to last with most light fixtures having a 5 to 10-year limited warranty. Available in many finishes including powder-coated, brass, or painted stainless bodies, they include sealed housings, UV-stablelenses and corrosion-resistant fasteners.
Direct-burial, low-voltage lighting wire with gel-filled wire nuts are reliable, allow easy serviceability and expansion of the system if desired.
LED lighting improves access and accessibility to outdoor gathering spaces in the evening while improving security.
The Project Coordinator orders the light fixtures and sets the installation schedule with you. The crew leader installs the lights according to the landscape design, or the placement you approved. With support from the Project Supervisor, final placement and aiming of fixtures is completed. We install the transformer and input your preferred settings.
Costs vary by fixture type (quality, capabilities - soft white vs color changing-, fixture count, transformer wattage and features, and the distance from the transformer to the furthest light fixture. We provide a comprehensive light installation proposal that describes the light fixtures selected, the size of the transformer, and the cost to install the entire system.
Most HOA’s require a lighting plan submittal for review and approval. We prepare the lighting plan and you submit it to the HOA. If changes are required, we will modify the plan for you.
LED light fixtures are low maintenance but require occasional lens cleaning and clearing of overgrown plants. Fixtures aimed at plants and key features can be disturbed by animals and humans (children, landscape, or pool maintenance service, etc.) and may need to be refocused. You’ll receive the manufacturer warranties and our workmanship warranty upon completion.
Designconsultations are free. Pool designs—and pool designs that include landscape—aretypically free. Stand-alone landscape designs may incur a nominal design feebased on scope. While landscape design fees can catch clients off guard, theyare critical to making sure the plan is buildable, bid properly, and that the crewsknow what to install. These highly detailed plans are also used for permitting,engineering (when required), and HOA and DRC submittals.
Yes— we specialize in turnkey landscape and pool design-build, with one point ofcontact for design and one for construction. Our team integrates pools, spas,and patios into a cohesive plan that looks intentional. Planning the entireproject from the beginning makes sure nothing is overlooked, installation isdone in the most efficient sequence, and, if the project is phased, rework islimited.
Landscapedesigns typically take 2–4 weeks; pool designs can be completed in about fivebusiness days. While most people view the pool as the more complicated element,the detail in the landscape plan is what ties the entire project togethercohesively, and why it takes more time.
Revisions are a normal part of the design process. Many times, what sounds good in conversation has a much different feel on paper. This is why the design process is so important to a successful project.
Revisions are a normal part of the design process. Many times, what sounds good in conversation has a much different feel on paper. This is why the design process is so important to a successful project.
Onceapproved, your design moves to estimating. We prepare a professional line-itemproposal, review it with you (there’s never pressure to decide on the spot),and incorporate any adjustments until the plan matches your vision and budget.
Yes. We have extensive experience working in some of thestrictest neighborhoods like Stone Canyon in Rancho Vistoso, Honey Bee Estates,Canyon Pass at Dove Mountain, Saguaro Ranch, Ritz-Carlton Residences, TheGallery at Dove Mountain (Dos Lagos), The Preserve, Pima Canyon, VentanaCanyon, La Paloma, Boulder Canyon, and their neighboring communities. Providingyour most current HOA guidelines helps streamline approvals.
Click Start Your Project or call us at (520) 574-7585 to schedule a complimentaryconsultation.
LED lighting is energy-efficient, less expensive to operate, easy to maintain and ideal for residential use.
High quality light fixtures can last 10–15 years or longer with minimal maintenance.
Yes- our landscape designs include a detailed lighting plan that creates night time drama and curb appeal, improves access to gathering spaces in the evening, and is integrated into the landscape and pool design. If your home has a pool with a smart controller, we can usually connect the lights to that controller for ease of operation.
Yes. We can meet the Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley Dark-Sky regulations by using shielded fixtures, limiting the number of fixtures installed, and total lumens. Some neighborhoods have separate regulations that limit the number of uplights and the placement of those (and other) fixtures on the property.
LED lighting installation is usually a quick process after fixture locations are identified. The actual time required is determined by the total number of light fixtures, the total distance of lighting wire installation, and ground conditions (for trenching and light fixture placement).
Absolutely - smart transformers come with a downloadable app for your phone or preferred device for remote programming, including dimming, color, and customized zones.
Click Start Your Project or call us at (520) 574-7585 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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“We don’t just design beautiful yards — we design spaces that actually get built. On time. On budget. And since most people don’t know who to trust, we earn it by asking better questions, solving real problems, and standing by our word.”
Tyler Johansen, Director Business Development
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© 2026 The Garden Gate & Artistic Pools and Spas, LLC. All rights reserved.
Made by Deadon Agency.
