Trees Falling in the Landscape

Posted by Georgene A. Bramlage Aug 18, 2006

Willis, in her August "Home Economics" column for Money Magazine,

reports what she learned when the 200-year-old red oak fell during a recent rainstorm. The tree narrowly missed the house and landed in the middle of the yard. Still, there was $10,000 worth of cleanup and tree to drag away and another $10,000 to replace other trees and shrubs wiped out during the red oak's fall.

Willis' homeowners insurance covered nothing because none of the loss was structural. Therefore, she and her husband faced $20,000 in out-of-pocket costs. Willis says, Now I know what most homeowners find out only after a disaster: My policy was no blanket. It was more like Swiss cheese.

The bottom line advice, Willis passes along is that you can insure against everything - your policy may not cover damage if the causes was your failure to make repairs, for instance - but you should plug whatever holes you can.

My article upcoming Avoiding Tree Death in the Landscape identifies ways in which you can keep trees in the built landscape healthy and happy.