If you have a garden on your property, the chances are that you might want your insurance company to cover your garden (plants and trees) in your home insurance.
If your garden packs a boatload of expensive plants and trees, you might consider insuring them. Plant insurance and insurance for trees are actually a thing, and you can make use of them to protect your precious greens.
Many people are not aware of it yet, but they can also cover plant and tree insurance while selecting home insurance. Gardens may not be fully covered or covered at all in your home insurance policy. To check that, make sure you give your home insurance policy a good read and see if they’ve got plant and tree insurance covered.
Our Love for Gardens
Gardens bring a close-to-nature look to our manmade properties and are absolutely necessary if you want a natural vibe around your home. Those of us who are fortunate enough for our properties to be big enough to include a garden, absolutely adore gardens. Gardens are great for outdoor recreational activities and are a happy place for many people. The fresh garden air that goes through your mouth is definitely a treat for your lungs.
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul,” says Alfred Austin.
However, with love comes extra care. Maintaining gardens can be a tedious task and is definitely not a piece of cake for everyone. You plant the trees and plants of your heart’s desire into your garden; these may be costly or not; it totally depends on your preferences.
Expensive plants and trees are not easy to replace and can drill a massive hole in your pockets. In addition to that, in case your exquisite plants are destroyed or something like that, there’s a chance that you won’t find them easily, either.
This is where garden insurance comes into play. What if we told you that plant and tree insurance is really a thing? It may sound absurd to some, but it can be a lifesaver (or a money saver) for others.
What is Garden Insurance?
Garden insurance is simply insurance for your garden, period. Having garden insurance means that your insurance policy covers your garden items, plants, ornaments, tools, and furniture to go into greater depths.
It is crucial to know that most home insurers provide a cover for gardens, but to be sure, you need to ask them or go through your home insurance policy yourself. Moreover, if you have some exquisite items in your garden that might require insurance protection, it would be best if you opt for specialist garden insurance to protect these.
Read also: How to choose swimming pool insurance?
Why Should I Get Garden Insurance?
- Gardens are the most vulnerable areas in your homes. They are very susceptible to theft, weather damage, and vandalism.
- Your garden equipment, plants, and trees are worth very much. Getting insurance covers that for you without being heavy on your pocket.
Home Insurance Policies – Do They Cover Garden Insurance?
Protection for your garden and its goods, including the furniture, plants, and trees, are usually within the ambit of your home insurance policy. However, if you’re not sure about that, it’s time you go through your home insurance policy.
If you have got your garden covered in your home insurance policy, there’s a great chance that your garden’s goods are split between buildings and contents. To fully ensure your plants, trees, and other elements make sure you get both of these wholly covered.
What Falls in The Ambit of Buildings Insurance?
Most home insurance policies got the following ‘buildings’ covered; however, you can always inquire from your home insurers if you’re not sure.
- Gates, fences, and walls in your garden.
- Drives and footpaths.
- Garages and sheds.
- Gazebos, pergolas, and indoor ponds.
- Swimming pools and tanks.
All of the above ‘buildings’ will be under your buildings insurance section covered in your home insurance policy. As you can very well see, garden gates, walls, sheds, and fences are covered in this. Buildings insurance covers damage brought to these buildings by fires, water leaks, oil leaks, theft, vandalism, subsidence, and harsh weather conditions.
If you want additional coverage for your garden’s buildings, make sure that you choose an option that has got your ENTIRE garden covered while going for home insurance. This might cost you some additional cash, but it’s going to be definitely worth every penny of yours.
In some cases, you’ll find that the plants and trees that are planted in your property’s soil are also covered in your home insurance – just ask your insurance company about it; they’d be happy to help!
What Falls in The Ambit of Contents Insurance?
Like buildings, some contents of your home are also covered in your home insurance policy. These contents include:
- Garden furniture.
- Gardening tools, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, whippersnappers, and other power tools.
- Bicycles, BBQ grills, and patio heaters.
To precisely know what is covered in your home insurance and what’s not, it would be best to ask for your insurance company’s help. You’ll also need to inquire about whether they give out plant and tree insurance or not.
In case your plants and trees are not covered by your insurance policy, you’d want to pay some extra bucks if you want insurance for trees and plants. However, if you live in an apartment, it may be good news that your home insurance will usually cover your plants. This includes your potted flowers, succulents, herbs, bonsais, and more!
What Will be Included in My Garden Insurance?
If your garden has been damaged due to the following events, you’ll get reimbursements from your insurance company:
- Harsh weather conditions.
- Leakage from water bodies.
- Vandalism and theft of gardening tools and plants.
- Fallen trees that may have landed on your shed and destroyed it.
- Natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, and storms.
- Explosions.
- Fire.
In most cases, the damages to your garden buildings or contents will be reimbursed up to a general cap of $2,000. If you want insurance coverage beyond that, it would be best if you go for specialist garden insurance policies.
What is NOT included in Garden Insurance?
In the following conditions, you won’t get any reimbursements from your garden insurance:
- Your garden is damaged due to a bug infestation.
- The damages to your garden building, ponds, and other garden contents are due to a lack of maintenance and negligence on your part.
- Your garden has been damaged due to your DIY projects.
- Any damage that was there before you purchased your insurance. This also covers damages from previous house owners.
- General wear and tear of your garden equipment.
- Plants planted in your property’s soil (plants planted in the ground).
Specialist Garden Insurance – Do I Need It?
Specialist garden insurance covers what your regular garden insurance does not. If you want to go the extra mile while insuring your garden, specialist garden insurance is what you need.
Specialist garden insurance increases the cap of your garden insurance policy. This way, you can ask for greater reimbursements in case of damages to your garden. Also, additional garden equipment can be covered by your specialist garden insurance.
If you have top-notch, expensive equipment installed in your gardens, like a barbeque grill or other valuable ornaments, you must consider getting specialist garden insurance. This is because gardens are an easy target for thieves, and you don’t want your precious possessions to be stolen.
If you find that your potted plants and other soiled plants and trees are not covered by your garden insurance, in those circumstances, too, would a specialist garden insurance help you. This way, you safeguard your precious plants and trees against robbery and any other damages.
Things to Remember When Going for a Garden Insurance
Now that you are well aware of garden insurance policies and insurance coverage, there are some things that you must know.
- Have a final look at your policy, and secure valuable plants, trees, and equipment. Do this even if you have to pay extra. The cost of paying for extra insurance is lesser than that of replacing stolen or damaged goods.
- Make sure you know about that cap and cover limit of your garden insurance policy. Don’t shy away from increasing the cap for extra coverage. This may cost more but is worth it.
- In case your plants, trees, and other garden tools & equipment are stolen or damaged, your insurance coverage should at least cover the cost of replacing them with new ones.
Getting a Quote for Plants and Tree Insurance
If you’ve seen that your home insurance company doesn’t cover insurance for trees and plants, it’s time you think about getting separate standalone insurance for your plants and trees. Getting individual insurance specifically for your plants and trees can add extra costs to your insurance budget. However, if you want to cover EVERYTHING literally, then this would be an excellent choice.
You can get a quote to get your plants and trees insured and select the insurance company that provides the most value at the best price. You can get an online quote by specifying your requirements or give them a call to get one.
Ending Note
Gardens are the most beautiful and ravishing parts of our homes – protecting them is our duty. Protecting your garden with an insurance policy not only protects your gardens but is also friendly to your wallet.
Getting garden insurance protects your plants, trees, garden equipment & tools, furniture, and other possessions. If you haven’t thought of getting garden insurance yet, now would be a great time to invest in garden insurance!
FAQs
Can I insure my garden?
Garden insurance covers objects kept in the garden, on a balcony, or on a patio. Plants, decorations, grills, tools, lawnmowers, and furnishings are all examples. Most house insurance policies include some amount of garden coverage, but it’s always a good idea to double-check before purchasing a policy.
Does my home insurance cover my garden fence?
Buildings insurance will typically cover structural features such as your shed, conservatory, and any garden fences, gates, or walls that are inside the limits of your house.
Does my house insurance cover my garden wall?
Because a garden is considered a permanent component of a home, most people who have basic home insurance should already have coverage for it. Fencing, walls, and sheds are all covered by building insurance.
Are plants covered by home insurance?
Standard homes insurance covers trees, plants, and shrubs, usually for around $500 per item. Trees and plants are not protected if they have been diseased, infested with bugs, or have been neglected.
What is not covered under homeowner’s insurance?
Damage caused by termites and insects, birds or rodents, rust, rot, mildew, and normal wear and tear is not covered. Damage from pollution or smoke generated by industrial or agricultural activity is also not covered. If something is poorly constructed or has a concealed flaw, it will almost always be excluded from coverage.
Is patio furniture covered under home insurance?
Your homeowner’s insurance will nearly always cover personal items, both indoors and out. Unless the loss is the consequence of carelessness, policyholders are generally reimbursed for any damage to patio furniture.
What is a garden cover?
What exactly is a garden cover? Garden insurance protects the contents of your garden against theft, loss, and damage. Garden furniture and children’s toys are examples of goods that are frequently left out in the open. And it frequently covers loss or damage to your plants, trees, and bushes, as well as any damage caused by your neighbors.
Can you insure a lawnmower?
If anything unexpected happens to your riding lawn mower, your homeowner’s insurance will cover it. If you keep your mower in a shed or garage, you’ll be covered under your policy’s other structures coverage. You must have suffered a sudden and unintentional loss, as with all claims.
