Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Your Landscaping?
Damage to your landscaping, including plants, trees, and shrubs, is covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Furthermore, if the damage is caused by a covered peril, homeowners insurance policies may cover a portion of the cost of removing damaged trees from your property.
Your landscaping is treated differently than other types of property while covered. Your insurer's protection is limited to a percentage of your total policy. Furthermore, unlike other types of property, your policy protects your landscaping from fewer causes of damage.
When does homeowners insurance cover landscaping damage?
Your landscaping, like other types of personal property, is covered by your homeowners insurance as long as the damage is caused by a covered peril. However, the list of covered perils that apply to your landscaping is shorter than the list that applies to the rest of your property.
To be eligible for coverage under your homeowners policy, your lawn and landscaping must have been damaged by one of the following perils:
- Fire or lightning
- Explosion
- Riot or civil commotion
- Aircraft
- Theft or vandalism
Your insurance will not protect your landscaping from hail or wind damage, which are two commonly covered perils for your home's structure. However, your insurance company may still cover the removal of wind-felled trees. Furthermore, if your landscaping is damaged by pests and vermin, your insurance will not cover it.
Insurers will also not pay flood-related claims under your homeowners policy. To cover that type of damage, you'll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy.
Some insurance companies cover landscaping damage, while others may only cover the removal of dead plants, shrubs, and trees. Furthermore, if you use your garden or landscaping for commercial purposes, your company will refuse to pay — even if the cause of the damage is technically covered.
Also, to be insurable, the landscaping must be located on your property's grounds. You cannot maintain a garden in another location, such as a shared community or neighborhood green space, and have your policy protect it.
How much is your landscaping covered for?
Most homeowner policies only cover trees, plants, and shrubs up to 5% of the total dwelling limit. Furthermore, you cannot claim more than $500 in expenses for a single item, even if it is damaged by a covered peril.
- For example, with a $500,000 policy, you could claim up to $25,000 for landscaping damage. You could, however, only claim $500 of this amount per damaged item. This means that if the individual value of your trees and plants exceeds $500, you will not be eligible for full coverage.
A tighter cap may be imposed on the removal of fallen trees. If multiple trees fall on your property and damage a structure, or obstruct your driveway or an entrance to your home, your insurer may only pay up to $1,000 for tree removal. The same $500 per tree limit applies.
Getting additional coverage for your lawn and garden
If you have extensive and expensive landscaping, you can actually purchase additional coverage or an endorsement that will give your plants, shrubs, and trees more protection. Instead of $500, each plant would typically receive up to $1,000 in coverage. In some cases, you may be able to increase that amount as well.
The endorsement would also cover any costly gardening and landscaping tools and machinery you own. Endorsements typically cost $50 to $100 more per year, depending on the amount of coverage requested. Contact your homeowners insurance agent for more information on the endorsement.