Is Landscaping Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance provides a financial safety net for your property against unexpected events. Many people understand that their policy protects the physical structure of their home and its contents. However, questions often arise regarding the extent to which landscaping is covered under a standard homeowners policy.

Understanding Standard Homeowners Coverage

A standard homeowners insurance policy offers coverage for damage to landscaping elements such as trees, shrubs, and plants. This coverage applies when the damage results from specific perils, including fire, lightning, explosion, vandalism, and theft. Damage caused by a vehicle not owned or operated by a resident of the household may also be covered.

The coverage for trees, shrubs, and plants is limited, set as a small percentage of the dwelling coverage, commonly ranging from 5% to 10%. Additionally, there is a per-item limit for replacement, around $500 to $1,000 per tree, shrub, or plant. Hardscaping elements like patios, walkways, and fences are covered under the “Other Structures” portion of the policy, subject to similar covered perils.

For instance, if a covered fire damages multiple expensive trees, the policy might pay up to its overall landscaping limit and the per-tree limit, even if the actual replacement cost is higher. Policyholders should review their specific declarations to understand these limitations fully.

Common Exclusions for Landscaping

While some perils are covered, standard homeowners insurance policies have exclusions when it comes to landscaping. Damage resulting from gradual issues like disease, insect infestation, or general wear and tear is not covered. Similarly, damage arising from a lack of maintenance or natural aging is the homeowner’s responsibility.

Damage caused by earth movement, such as earthquakes, landslides, or mudslides, is excluded from standard policies. These events require separate, specialized policies or endorsements for coverage. Water damage from floods or sewer backups is also an exclusion, necessitating a separate flood insurance policy for protection.

Furthermore, while some policies cover wind and hail damage to structures, coverage for trees and shrubs due to these weather events can be limited or excluded unless the tree damages a covered structure. If a tree falls due to wind but causes no damage to a covered building, the cost of tree removal or replacement may not be covered.

Exploring Additional Coverage Options

Homeowners seeking broader protection for their landscaping can explore additional coverage options. Insurers offer endorsements that can be added to a standard policy to increase coverage limits for trees, shrubs, and plants. These endorsements might raise the per-item limit, for example, from $500 to $1,000 or more, and could also increase the overall percentage of dwelling coverage allocated to landscaping.

Some endorsements may extend coverage to perils excluded, such as specific types of wind damage or debris removal for fallen trees, even if they do not damage a structure. For valuable or unique landscaping elements, such as rare specimen plants, a scheduled personal property endorsement might be an option. This type of endorsement lists specific items with their appraised values, providing more comprehensive coverage for those high-value assets.

Homeowners living in areas prone to floods or earthquakes can purchase separate flood insurance policies through programs like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers, and earthquake policies or endorsements. These additional coverages provide protection for landscaping against perils that are otherwise excluded from a standard homeowners policy.