Is Your Custom Landscaping Covered?

Most homeowners assume their "dwelling" coverage extends to everything on their property. But when it comes to expensive landscaping, trees, and custom features like koi ponds, standard policies often fall short.

The $25,000 Lesson

I recently visited a client—let's call him Mark—to perform a storm insurance assessment. Mark had invested heavily in his backyard oasis, the centerpiece of which was a stunning, professionally designed koi pond. We're talking imported stone, a high-end filtration system, and prize-winning fish. The total receipt for the installation was over $25,000.

A severe winter storm had caused a power failure and subsequent freeze that damaged the filtration system and cracked the custom stonework. Mark wasn't worried; he had the receipts, he had a premium homeowner's policy, and he filed a claim immediately.

The claim was denied.

Why? Because in many standard policies, "other structures" coverage has strict limits on what is considered a "structure" versus "landscaping" or "vegetation." Furthermore, damage caused by freezing to outdoor plumbing or systems often requires a specific endorsement or rider that Mark didn't have.

Vegetation & Landscaping: The Hidden Exclusions

Standard homeowners insurance (HO-3 policies) typically covers trees, shrubs, and plants for specific perils like fire, lightning, explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles, vandalism, and theft.

Notice what's missing? Wind and ice.

If a windstorm knocks down your prize oak tree, or an ice storm kills your expensive Japanese maples, you likely have zero coverage for the plant itself (though you might get coverage for removing it if it blocks a driveway).

For features like koi ponds, the water and the fish are often considered "contents" or "pets," which have their own exclusions. The structure itself might be covered, but often only for specific perils, and freezing is rarely one of them without extra coverage.

How to Protect Your Oasis

You don't have to leave your investment at risk. Here is how to ensure you are covered:

• Request a "Landscaping Endorsement": This can increase the limit per tree/plant (often capped at $500 in standard policies) to a much higher amount, and sometimes broaden the covered perils.
• Ask about "Other Structures" specifics: Explicitly ask your agent if your pond, gazebo, or outdoor kitchen is covered under Coverage B (Other Structures) and for what perils.
• Document Everything in HouseStats: This is where we come in.

Don't wait for a claim denial to find out what's in your fine print. Audit your outdoor assets today, log them, and call your agent to add that endorsement.