How to ensure your garden is protected

Brits are notoriously proud of their gardens, often spending thousands to keep them in good shape. However, with garden theft a growing problem it’s vital to compare home insurance policies to ensure your green goodies are protected.

Here we look at how home insurance applies to gardens, why it’s important and what you can do to avoid claims.

Why should you take out garden cover?

Take a quick look around your garden and start to assess the value of the items it contains and you could be surprised at how much of a goldmine your garden may be.

For example, in May 2009, a comparison website compared the cheapest and most expensive prices of some typical garden articles at a popular UK DIY store. It found that a rotary mower could cost anything from £39.15 to £459.78; a gas BBQ could cost from £48.98 to £399.98; and a table with four chairs could cost from £71.90 to £479.90. For these three items alone, the cheapest total price a garden enthusiast could pay would be £160.03; while the same items could potentially cost as much as £1,339.66.

Add to this the cost of additional garden furniture, potted plants, garden ornaments and tools, and it’s clear just how much value the nation’s gardens contain and why it’s so important to protect them. Not only should you look to protect items against garden theft but also consider cover for the cost of replacing plants, ornaments and garden furniture following damage that could be caused by falling trees or branches, for example.

How does home insurance cover apply to gardens?

Garden cover is included in most home insurance policies as standard but the levels of protection can vary widely. Cover for items you keep outdoors usually has a limit, which can be as low as £250 with some providers and as high as £2,000 or even unlimited with others. Insurers are specific about what is and isn’t covered so read the small print.

Usually, there will be a separate cover limit that applies to items that are stored in outbuildings and sheds, such as lawnmowers, garden tools and bicycles. Again, varying levels of protection are available for these items – it could be as low as £2,000 or as high as £75,000. There may also be stipulations that apply to the cover – for example, most insurers will insist the outbuilding is locked with a secure padlock.

There is no standard approach to how insurers assess garden cover and so consumers should shop around and read policy documents carefully before they apply. For example, are there policy limits that apply to individual items – such as a cap on the amount you can claim for a plant, tree or garden furniture? You may need to declare single expensive items that are above the single item limit on your cover.

If you own particularly expensive garden furniture or items you may even consider a specialist home and gardens insurance policy. These policies will place much higher limits on your garden cover – typically around £10,000 in a single year. You may also be covered for re-landscaping fees; ride-on lawnmowers; and storm damage for fences and gates; all of which are not typically covered by a standard home insurance policy. You should still be careful to check for policy limits however, as there may be individual caps placed on items such as ornaments and furniture.

Where can you find home insurance with suitable garden cover?

The key to finding suitable home insurance cover is to shop around with a comparison website. With these websites you enter your details into a search tool and it will retrieve quotes from its list of insurers – the leading websites compare more than 60 policies.

The cheapest quote is always first in the listings but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily the right choice for you. You should pay attention to the level of cover available as well as the price offered and read the terms and conditions thoroughly. Ensure that you have a suitable level of garden contents cover and if none of the listed policies meet your expectations then consider a specialist deal.

How can you avoid home insurance claims for your garden?

Making a claim on your home insurance will almost certainly cause your premiums to rise when it comes to renew your policy so its best to take all the steps you can to protect your garden and avoid a claim. Here are some tips:

Ensure all gates and fences are in a good state of repair and kept locked and bolted as appropriate so a thief cannot gain easy access.
Lock away valuable items such as tools and bicycles each night or they may not be covered.
Install a security light or CCTV cameras as a deterrent to thieves – some insurers will offer discounts based on the security devices you use.
Consider planting high, prickly hedges around the borders of your garden - thorny shrubs such as pyracantha, blackthorn, blue pine and holly are effective deterrents.
Use gravel on driveways and garden paths as this could act as an audible warning of intruders.

Remember too, to keep receipts for items you keep in the garden to ensure a claim runs smoothly and take photographs of larger, more expensive items.

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