Low-voltage LED path lights, uplighting, hardscape lights and patio lighting, designed for desert heat and 300+ evenings of outdoor living
Get Your Free Lighting EstimateThe High Desert gives you 300+ evenings a year of perfect outdoor weather, but most backyards go dark after sunset.
Low-voltage LED landscape lighting extends your outdoor living space from sundown to midnight and beyond. Path lights, uplighting, hardscape lights, patio string lights, all on low-voltage wiring that costs pennies to run. A typical residential lighting project runs $2,500-$8,000 depending on property size, with individual fixtures running $150-$400 installed including wiring and transformer share. See our full landscape lighting cost guide for detailed pricing by fixture type, transformer sizing, and project size.
Monarch Landscape & Design installs landscape lighting across all seven High Desert cities. Based in Hesperia and serving Victorville, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Phelan, Barstow, and Oak Hills. We pair lighting with every hardscape, patio, and landscaping project we build. Every installation starts with a free on-site walkthrough where we identify the best spots for fixtures and design a layout that works with your property. We also handle commercial lighting projects for business parks and HOA common areas.
Every low-voltage lighting install we build includes these core components.
The transformer is the box that steps your home’s 120V down to the safe 12V the fixtures run on. Get the size wrong and your lights either flicker, run dim, or kill the LEDs early. Get it right and the system runs quiet for 20-plus years.
The math is simple. Add up the wattage of every fixture, then multiply by 1.25. That 25% buffer (sometimes called headroom) covers voltage drop on long runs, future fixture additions, and the fact that no transformer should run at 100% of its rating. The result is the minimum transformer size you need. Round up to the nearest standard size: 100W, 150W, 300W, 600W, or 900W.
| Project Size | Fixture Math | Total Watts | With 1.25x Buffer | Transformer Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small path run | 6 path lights x 5W | 30W | 38W | 75W or 100W transformer |
| Mid front-yard kit | 12 fixtures x 5W (mix of path + uplight) | 60W | 75W | 150W transformer |
| Full-yard system | 20 fixtures averaging 6W | 120W | 150W | 300W transformer |
| Large property | 25 fixtures averaging 7W | 175W | 219W | 300W or 600W transformer |
| Estate / multi-zone | 40+ fixtures across zones | 240W+ | 300W+ | 600W or two 300W units zoned |
Voltage drop on long runs. Once a wire run goes past 100 feet from the transformer, voltage starts dropping below the 10.8V minimum most LED fixtures need to run at full brightness. The fix is heavier wire. We default to 12 AWG cable for runs up to 100 ft, and step up to 10 AWG for runs between 100 and 175 ft. On large desert lots in Apple Valley or Pinon Hills where the transformer sits at the house and fixtures run out to a 200-foot driveway, we sometimes split the load across two transformers instead of fighting voltage drop with thicker wire.
Every transformer we install plugs into a GFCI outdoor outlet on the house. If the outlet on your patio is not GFCI-protected, that gets fixed first. Mounting goes on a fence post or house wall, never on the ground where wind-blown sand and monsoon runoff can short the unit.
Want to know what landscape lighting costs in the High Desert before you commit? Our LED path light and uplighting cost guide breaks down per-fixture pricing, transformer sizing math, full-system project ranges from $2,000 to $10,000, and the LED-vs-solar comparison most homeowners ask about. Read it first, then come back here when you are ready to schedule a dusk walkthrough.
More outdoor evenings than almost anywhere in California. Lighting makes them usable.
Five lighting categories we install across the High Desert, each built for desert conditions.
Low-profile fixtures every 6-8 feet along walkways, driveways, and garden paths. Warm white LED for visibility without glare. Brass or copper bodies that develop a natural patina in desert air. We run 12V low-voltage systems with 12 AWG wire for runs over 50 ft to prevent voltage drop. Minimum 6-inch burial depth per NEC 300.5, deeper under driveways where we run through PVC conduit.
Get a Path Lighting Estimate →Ground-mounted fixtures aimed upward into tree canopies, palm trunks, and desert plantings. Creates dramatic shadows and highlights landscape features after dark. Adjustable beam angles for precise aiming. Desert trees worth uplighting: Palo Verde, Desert Willow, Chilean Mesquite, their branching patterns cast stunning shadows on stucco walls. One to two fixtures per tree, positioned 1-2 ft from the trunk.
Get an Uplighting Estimate →Recessed or surface-mount fixtures built into retaining walls, seat walls, steps, and columns. Integrated during hardscape construction for clean wire routing. Lights up stairs and level changes for safety. We use WAC and Kichler hardscape fixtures rated for desert conditions. Best results come from planning lighting during the hardscape build, not after, so wire channels are hidden inside the wall structure.
Get a Hardscape Lighting Estimate →String lights, pendant fixtures, and downlighting for covered patios, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens. Pairs with patio covers and fire pits for complete outdoor rooms. We spec 2700K-3000K warm color temperature across all patio fixtures, it flatters desert stone and stucco without the harsh blue look of 4000K+ bulbs. Transformer sizing includes 20% headroom so you can add fixtures later without upgrading the power supply.
Get a Patio Lighting Estimate →Motion-activated LED floods with photocell sensors that turn on at dusk and trigger on movement. Smart-home compatible with timer and app control. Positioned to illuminate entry points and dark corners without light trespass, following International Dark-Sky Association best practices for responsible outdoor lighting. In rural areas like Oak Hills and Phelan, perimeter lighting improves visibility for scorpions, snakes, and coyotes, real concerns on desert lots without street lights.
Get a Security Lighting Estimate →Most homeowners ask the same first question once they are sold on lighting: which brand should I pick? Big-box store kits work for one season, then the housings corrode and the LED drivers fail in the desert heat. Real contractor-grade fixtures cost more upfront and last 20 years. Here is how the five brands we install most often compare.
The short version: FX Luminaire and CAST are premium picks for design-forward projects with smart-control budgets. Vista and Kichler hit the sweet spot for full-yard residential systems where you want quality without paying for the top tier. VOLT is the value pick when you want brass durability without the FX price tag. We size every system to the property and budget, then match the brand to fit.
| Brand | Tier | Fixture Build | Warranty | Transformer / Controls | HD Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX Luminaire | Premium | Cast brass, machined aluminum housings, ZD (zoning + dimming) tech | 15-year fixture, 5-year LED, 1-year finish | Luxor smart transformer with phone app, sunset astro-timer, per-fixture dimming and color | Strong. Distributed through Hydro-Scape and Ewing Outdoor Supply (Victorville and Riverside branches). |
| Vista Professional | Mid to Premium | Solid brass and copper, sand-cast bronze, machined aluminum on entry models | 15-year fixture, 5-year LED | Standard 12V transformers, smart-home compatible via add-on controllers | Strong. Stocked at Hydro-Scape Riverside and shipped same-day to HD job sites. |
| Kichler | Mid | Aluminum, composite, and brass options. Largest 12V product line in the trade. | 5-year fixture, 3-year LED on most lines | Standard transformers, optional Wi-Fi modules, smart-home compatible via Lutron Caseta | Strong. Available through HD Supply, Ferguson, and most major distributors. |
| VOLT Lighting | Mid | Solid brass and copper across the line, no aluminum | Lifetime fixture, 10-year LED (manufacturer factory direct) | Standard transformers, basic Wi-Fi controllers, no flagship smart platform | Direct-to-installer online ordering, 2-day shipping to HD addresses. |
| CAST Lighting | Premium | Sand-cast bronze, the heaviest fixtures in the trade. Visible casting marks are part of the look. | Lifetime fixture warranty on bronze housings | Standard transformers, integrates with Lutron and other third-party controls | Specialty distribution, ordered direct or through landscape supply. |
A few buying notes from the field. Beam control matters more than wattage. A 3W fixture with a tight 15-degree optic will throw further and look cleaner than a 7W fixture with a sloppy 60-degree spread. FX, Vista, and CAST all sell beam-spread accessories so we can dial each fixture to the target. Kichler and VOLT have fewer optic choices but cover the common needs.
Cast brass and bronze last decades in the desert. Aluminum cracks in 2 to 3 seasons. The sun, heat, and cold cycle on a south-facing wall in Hesperia or Apple Valley will work-harden cast aluminum until it splits at the seams. We have replaced enough $40 box-store fixtures to know. If a fixture is going on a hardscape or against a south or west wall, we spec brass or bronze without exception.
Transformer choice locks in your control options. Pick FX Luminaire if you want full smart control with sunset tracking, color tuning, and per-fixture dimming from your phone. Pick a standard 12V transformer with Lutron Caseta or a Wi-Fi outlet timer if you want simple on/off scheduling at half the price. Both are valid. We talk through the tradeoff during the dusk walkthrough.
Recent installations from Victorville to Barstow.
Low-voltage LED path lights along a custom putting green. Warm white fixtures in brass housings spaced every 6 feet for even coverage.
Integrated hardscape lights in a retaining wall and entry gate. Low-voltage LED illuminates the driveway and walkway for safety and curb appeal.
Fire pit glow paired with low-voltage pool deck lighting. Recessed step lights and path fixtures create a complete evening entertainment space.
Based in Hesperia. Serving every city across the High Desert with the same crew and the same quality.
Path and security lighting for Spring Valley Lake, Eagle Ranch, and all Victorville neighborhoods. Cajon Series sandy soil makes wire trenching fast, we bury cable and backfill the same day. At 2,900 ft elevation with 300+ clear evenings a year, your fixtures get more use here than almost anywhere in California. SVL and Eagle Ranch HOA-compliant fixture styles available.
Our home base. Lighting for patios, driveways, and outdoor kitchens across Hesperia. Granite bedrock in Summit Valley and upper Hesperia requires conduit routing instead of direct burial, our crew knows where to expect it. Hesperia’s 800-ft elevation range creates split microclimates, so we spec freeze-rated fixtures for southern neighborhoods near the Cajon Pass. Silverwood new construction packages available.
Jess Ranch 55+ community path lighting along walking trails and driveways. Sycamore Rocks estate accent lighting for custom homes on 2.5+ acre lots with rocky terrain. Helendale Series soil at higher elevations means slower permeability, we route wire around the argillic clay layer. Apple Valley sits at 2,900 ft with 283 sunny days, so every fixture needs UV-stabilized lenses.
No street lights in rural west Adelanto, security lighting is a priority, not a luxury. Motion-activated LED floods on every corner of the house plus dusk-to-dawn driveway lights. With 286 sunny days a year, solar panels are viable for accents, but wired LED is more reliable long-term. Adelanto Series clay soil at 8-16 inches slows trenching, we budget extra time for gas and wire runs through the argillic layer. 600+ new homes in the pipeline means plenty of first-time lighting installs.
Rural 1-5 acre properties need driveway illumination you can see from the road. Cajon Pass wind hits Phelan at 50-100 mph, flush-mount fixtures only, no tall path lights that catch gusts. DG soil is easy trenching for wire burial. Phelan is the coldest city in our service area with 80-100 nights below freezing, so every fixture must be freeze-rated. We spec brass and copper housings that handle the thermal cycling from 105F days to 15F nights.
Heat-rated fixtures are mandatory in Barstow, pavement temps hit 150-170F in summer, and cheap plastic housings crack within one season. Barstow sits at the lowest elevation in our service area (2,100 ft), which means the most UV exposure and the most extreme heat. Cajon Series sand makes wire trenching straightforward. MCLB and Fort Irwin families rely on security and perimeter lighting for base-adjacent properties. We make the 40-minute drive because Barstow deserves the same quality we install in Hesperia.
No street lights in Oak Hills. Security lighting on 2-4 acre lots is the most common request we get here. Wind exposure is second only to Phelan, typical gusts hit 40-60 mph, so we install flush-mount and low-profile fixtures exclusively. DG and alluvial transitional soil digs easily for wire burial. Elevated terrain at 3,500-4,000 ft means more UV than the valley floor, brass and copper housings hold up where painted aluminum fails.
A proven 4-step process from first visit to finished installation.
We walk your property at dusk when possible, identify key features, and design a lighting layout. You get a written estimate with fixture specs and no obligation.
Select fixtures from our brass, copper, and polycarbonate options. We plan wire routes, spec the transformer, and map every fixture location before work starts.
Trench wiring below grade, mount fixtures, wire the transformer, and test every zone. Clean routing so no wires show above ground.
Set timers, adjust fixture angles for best effect, show you the controls, and leave you with care tips. We come back to tweak if anything needs adjustment.
Read all 114 reviews on Google →
“Monarch added path lights and uplighting to our front yard after they finished the rockscape. The property looks completely different at night. Brass fixtures, clean wiring, and a timer that just works. They even came back to adjust the angles after the trees grew in.”
“Had security lights and patio string lights installed at our Oak Hills property. No street lights out here so we needed something reliable. LED fixtures with motion sensors on the corners and warm lights on the patio. Power bill barely moved.”
Landscape lighting across Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Phelan, Barstow & Oak Hills
Landscape lighting pairs with our other desert landscaping services for a complete outdoor project.
Get a free lighting estimate for your High Desert property. We’ll walk the property at dusk, design a layout, and give you an honest number. No pressure.
Financing available, projects from $463/mo
Or call now: (760) 792-7627
Licensed, Insured & Trusted Across the High Desert Since 2009
