Home Home insurance Coverage Home insurance for landscaping and plants Home insurance for landscaping and plants Written by: Shannon Lee | Reviewed by: Michelle Megna Michelle Megna Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. | Posted on December 7, 2009 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. When it comes to the trees, shrubs and plants around a house, homeowners often don’t know what their home insurance policies cover. Your home insurance policy might cover damage to your landscaping under certain circumstances. A standard policy covers damages to “trees, shrubs and other plants” resulting from fire, lightning, explosion, riot or commotion, vandalism and theft. How much it covers depends on various factors. However, keep in mind that coverage for landscaping doesn’t apply in every situation. For example, if a severe windstorm brings a large tree crashing down on your house, the insurance will cover removal of the tree and the repairs to the structure. But most policies won’t cover the replacement cost of the tree itself. “For claims involving damage to landscaping, a few companies will cover up to 5 percent of the house’s insured value,” explains Loretta L. Worters, Vice President of the Insurance Information Institute. “Some insurers don’t cover trees and landscaping because of the inability to value landscaping. Its vulnerability makes it difficult to establish a premium.” Do you need additional insurance? Pay close attention to what your policy promises to cover. According to Worters, coverage is often limited to $500 per plant, up to 5 percent of the coverage on the home. For instance, a policy of $200,000 on a home would result in $10,000 maximum coverage for landscaping. If you have rare or expensive plants, or trees that have been standing for hundreds of years, you might consider additional coverage tacked onto your home insurance policy that specifically covers your unique landscaping. “An endorsement can be added to a standard policy, which increases the per item limit to $1,000 for each tree, shrub, or plant,” Worters points out. Riders that protect against wind, snow and hail are also available. It may be a good investment if you have elaborate landscaping or expensive structures under the ground, such as an irrigation system. Remember, trees ripped out by their roots during storms can damage everything in their path. Protecting the resale value of your home is another good reason to look into additional coverage. A review of regional studies conducted by research scientist Kathleen Wolf at the University of Washington in Seattle found that mature trees on the property could boost a home’s selling price by up to 15 percent. Got damage? If you already have significant landscaping damage that is not covered by your home insurance policy, there are other options that might help you recoup some of the loss. When it’s time to file taxes, you might be able to claim a loss on your federal income tax. Before you start the major cleanup and replacement, contact an arborist for an estimate of damages. The estimate will not only help your tax preparer in the spring, but will also give you an idea of the amount of landscaping insurance you might need in the future. QuickTake Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Is mortgage disability insurance worth it? What’s Other Structures coverage in home insurance? Guide to personal property insurance Alternative heating can cause surprise fires Should gun owners carry more insurance? What's the better security system: Dog or home alarm? What is medical payments coverage on home insurance? Home renovation insurance: Does homeowners insurance cover renovations? 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