Whether you choose to fill your gardens only with crops or add flowers to beautify them, you can benefit from putting solar panels in your garden. The panels have more use than you'd think, and they pay for themselves tenfold.
1. Lighting
One of the most common uses of solar is to generate electricity to power something. People may use solar energy in a garden to light up walkways at night. It can also be used to power insect repellent lights all night long, so gardeners don't have to worry about pests attacking their crops.
Switching to solar power throughout your home can save you hundreds of dollars each month. While solar panels for the house may not be feasible for many households, they may be able to invest in their garden and save energy and money on a smaller scale.
2. Decoration
Many people like to put decorations in their gardens. While gardens full of crops typically have fewer ornaments because they tend to be more practical, some people may have flower-only gardens that need some type of decoration. Garden ornaments can make an aesthetic pop, and nighttime lights can make a flower garden look even more enchanting.
Solar-powered decorations can shine in this category, as the decorations don't need to pop during the day but stand out and make a garden that much more beautiful at night.
3. Powering LED Grow Lights
If you find it hard to grow plants in your area, you can still rely on solar energy to help your plants grow. Solar energy can power LED growing lights in gardens that don't get adequate sunlight, and you can use various colors to get the desired result.
These grow lights might affect plants differently, depending on the color you hit them with. Orange and red lights can stimulate photosynthesis, whereas green light doesn't help plants grow all too much. With the right LED lights, you can optimize growth for both crops and flowering plants.
4. To Power a Community
In great numbers, solar panels can do impressive things. Large panel grids can even power communities – but with a solar-powered garden, you can support your community in other ways. Building a community garden means giving back to your community and helping people who may not be able to afford things for themselves.
A community garden requires multiple people to reach out to help and educate others. By working together, you can make a difference for people who can't grow their own food and may be unable to rely on groceries. Instead of giving electricity to a community, you're using solar power to grow food, which empowers the community itself.
5. Lower Water Usage
Especially in dry environments or areas prone to drought, conserving water is more important than almost anything else. With solar panels creating shade, your plants are less likely to get dehydrated. In fact, crops grown underneath solar panels need just half as much water as those fully exposed to the sun.
With solar panels blocking sunlight, you also don't lose as much water to evaporation. It's overall better for a garden in a dry climate.
The Price of Solar Is Worth It
Right now, solar power is an expensive option that not many people may find room for in their budget. Over time, solar power will become more accessible and the price will decrease. People who can afford solar power for their gardens will reap the immediate benefits of including solar panels.
Because solar energy benefits the environment, people may find it a more worthwhile investment – especially since it'll also help cut back on other resources and fees.
