The landscaping around your home can be aesthetically pleasing and enhance your property value. Unfortunately, no matter what part of the country you live in, frequent weather changes like extreme heat, drought conditions, and cold snaps can all negatively impact the overall health of the trees around your property.
Heavy winds, snow, and ice from seasonal storms can weaken tree branches and cause structural damage to trees, posing hazards to your home and vehicle, making it essential to follow proper tree maintenance.
How to protect your home and car from tree damage
While downed trees are an unfortunate occurrence when a storm strikes, there are preventative measures you can take to reduce property and car damage.
Choose appropriate trees
When planting a tree, you should always consider how tall and wide it will get so that it has space to grow, preferably away from your house. It would help to ensure a tree is not planted near power or utility lines. Arborists also recommend planting storm-resistant trees with deeper root systems to prevent damage to your home and car.
Have trees inspected
Trees should be inspected occasionally by a trained arborist, who can determine if a tree’s roots are damaged and if branches are diseased or rotted.
Trim trees regularly
Trees on your property should be trimmed by a trained arborist to make sure any branches that are diseased, dying, or dead are removed. Doing so not only keeps trees healthy, but also prevents unhealthy branches from becoming projectiles in a storm.
Keep your car in the garage
If you have a garage, keeping your vehicle inside protects it from fallen trees, branches, and projectiles during a storm.
Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed
Like trees, the bushes and shrubs around your home and property should also be properly maintained. Dead bushes and shrubs can become airborne during a storm and cause damage to your home or car.
If you have trees or shrubs that you need professional help to trim or cut down, you can take advantage of the Select Home Restoration ProgramSM to find a properly licensed and insured arborist. Sedgwick’s tree and shrub removal program provides support to property owners in all 50 states. Sedgwick matches you with one of 2,000 certified local, regional, and national contractors, monitors the project for quality and timeliness throughout the process, and guarantees the work for 5 years.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover tree damage?
Under your standard homeowner’s policy with MAPFRE, you are usually covered for losses should certain events, like a major fire, windstorm, or heavy snow, damage your home’s exterior or interior. Things typically not covered by your policy would be general wear and tear and damage from a lack of maintenance, such as:
- Tree limbs hanging on or over dwellings or outbuildings
- Dead or damaged limbs on trees that are within striking distance of your structure
Does auto insurance cover tree damage?
When you insure your vehicle with MAPFRE, comprehensive coverage protects your car against extreme weather like hail, wind, fire, or flood damage. It also covers damage from falling objects, like branches or trees. If a neighbor’s tree falls onto your car, comprehensive coverage would also cover damage. Keep in mind, that every policy includes varying levels of coverage and does not include your deductible.
If a tree falls due to neglect, like rotting, you may not be covered for property damage on your standard homeowner policy. For this reason, it’s important for both you and your neighbors to follow proper tree maintenance.
Make sure your MAPFRE property and auto insurance policies are up to date by contacting an independent agent in your state. If you’re not insured with MAPFRE yet and live in Massachusetts, you can always get a fast, free quote today!
