Tips for Protecting Your Garden & Lawn

During this long cold winter you’ve probably spent only as much time in your yard as you had to – removing tree branches that have blown in, shoveling snow, or climbing up on your roof to clear gutters. As spring approaches, we know some of you are itching to get outside and start gardening. Did you know that most Minnesota homeowners insurance  policies don't cover damage to your garden? It's something to consider, especially if you go to great lengths to manicure and care for your lawn and garden. We know that your gardens are important to you so we've put together a few tips on how to keep them protected.

Here are some ways to protect your garden from big, windy storms:

• Cover your plants and flowers with tarp or garbage cans (if it's just heavy rain) to protect them from being washed away. Move your potted plants inside your home, covered porch, shed or garage.
• Place a long stake into the ground near your plants and tie them to the stake securely with panty hose to keep them stable in high winds.
• Consider purchasing a greenhouse. There are some cost effective options these days that are worth looking into.

Whether you relish gardening or detest it, sometimes we need help with gardening. An arborist can provide professional advice on what trees and shrubs work well in different locations, and can help with pruning or training trees if you’re not sure where to start. An arborist can also provide tips on how to protect your garden from storms. 

Also, you may have thought about hiring some casual help for weeding and lawn mowing so that you can focus on the more creative aspects of gardening; you’ll want to inquire about Minnesota homeowners insurance liability coverage if your help is injured while working for you. Be sure to talk to your agent or insurer before you engage casual help in your garden.

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