Assigning a dollar-and-cents value to your garden, its features and the tools you use to keep it in good shape might seem like a tricky job. But when you do the maths, you'll probably find that – between outdoor furniture, paved areas, power tools, treasured plants and prized gnome collections – that value is higher than you'd think. So it's worth figuring out whether your insurance policy is giving you the garden-related coverage you need.
What is garden insurance?
Garden insurance can financially protect the value of your garden from a variety of unexpected events like storms, thefts and vandalism. You can get cover as part of a home insurance policy.
What garden insurance options do I have?
Depending on what you want to have covered, there are a few options available.
Home and contents insurance. A home and contents insurance policy is ideal if you want cover for your plant friends both in and outside of your home. The home/building part of the policy can cover the permanent fixtures of your garden like water features and your shed, while the contents part of the policy will cover things like your indoor pot plants and your gardening tools.
Home/building insurance. A building insurance policy can cover things like gazebos, sheds, pergolas, water features and ponds. Pretty much anything that can't be easily removed from your property, these are known as permanent fixtures. Did you also know that flowers and trees that are planted into the soil can also be included in your building insurance policy?
Contents insurance. A contents insurance policy is handy if you have a lot of high-value stuff outside of your home, think outdoor furniture, ride-on lawnmowers, leaf blowers and whipper snippers. Also, If you're an apartment dweller with a beloved collection of potted flowers, bonsai, succulents or herbs, you can sleep easy knowing your contents insurance will cover those precious plant friends.
Finder survey: Are Australians worried about the environment?
Response
Yes
45.73%
Somewhat
40.52%
No
13.75%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023
Get garden insurance by comparing home and contents insurance
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Theft of tools, outdoor furniture and garden ornaments – and even plants – does happen from time to time. So does vandalism, storm damage, and damage from fire, floods, and falling trees and branches.
A well-thought-out insurance policy can give you peace of mind that in one of those unlucky scenarios, your garden-related valuables could be repaired or replaced. That's why you need it.
When is my garden covered?
Most home insurance policies will cover your garden for the damages and losses caused by these main events:
Be aware that whatever form of cover you take out on plants, trees and shrubs, the replacement or repair value will generally be capped at $2,000 total.
If the water damage from your pond is due to a lack of care and maintenance
Any damages to your property caused by DIY projects
If you take out a home insurance policy after the damage occurs
General wear and tear of your tools
Existing damage from the previous homeowner
Do you have a green thumb? Here's the bottom line.
Many of us pour a lot of time, care and sweat – not to mention cash – into our gardens. While garden insurance won't get rid of the angst of garden items being damaged or stolen, the financial compensation that allows you to repair or replace those items will ease the pain.
You pay the same as buying directly from the home insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of home insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 150,000+ people find home insurance by explaining your cover options simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Different home, building and contents policies have different rules about public liability; some but not all of them will cover legal liability to someone who is injured while on your property, including in your garden. As always, it's wise to read the fine print.
Water features can be considered a permanent fixture in your garden, so you'll most likely be covered by a building insurance policy or a home and contents insurance policy.
If you're taking a trip, arrange for a neighbour or friend to drop in occasionally while you're away to deal with any weeds that spring up and to keep your lawns neat and your gutters leaf-free. This will prevent the appearance of an empty home, which is like catnip to burglars.
Build a fire-smart garden. Don't leave piles of dry garden waste lying around, keep a decent gap between buildings and vegetation, and prune deadwood.
Watch for leaning trees or dangling branches that could become hazards over time.
Specialist garden insurance doesn't exist in Australia as such (at the time of writing, of course).
It just means you should be paying even closer attention to your home insurance policy. That way, you can ensure you're getting cover for the things that you want to protect the most.
As a professional gardener, a few different insurance policies could be handy.Check out our guide to see which could be useful for you.
If you hire a professional gardener, they should have some form of liability insurance since it's a legal requirement.
This type of insurance should protect them and their employer from things like, if they get injured on the job or if their work causes injury to someone else.
Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification.
Camera insurance is a must-have if you carry a lot of expensive gear. Find out how to get cover through either contents insurance or speciality camera insurance.
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