Landscapers & Tree Service Coverage Guide
Tree service is one of the most dangerous trades in the country (chainsaws, heights, falling limbs). Landscapers also face herbicide/pesticide pollution exposure and customer-property damage from equipment.
Critical Coverage
General Liability
Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims
What it covers
Property damage from mowers (rocks through windows, lawn-equipment damage to underground sprinklers), customer-property damage from tree work, and bodily injury (falling limbs to passersby).
Common misconception
Landscapers think 'we just cut grass — what could go wrong?' A flying rock from a mower can blind a child. A falling limb during pruning can crush a parked car or a person.
What it does NOT cover
Damage to your work product (a tree you killed). Pesticide/herbicide pollution (separate endorsement). Damage to underground utilities you didn't locate.
The gap — what happens without it
A rock from your mower shatters a customer's sliding glass door — $4,200. A larger one blinds a passerby — $850K bodily injury. GL pays both with appropriate limits.
What drives your premium
Annual revenue, mowing vs. hardscape vs. tree service (highest), pesticide application, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Pesticide/herbicide application coverage. Underground utility damage. Care/custody/control of customer property.
Workers' Compensation
Covers employee injuries and illnesses on the job
What it covers
Lacerations from blades and chainsaws, eye injuries from debris, heat illness, repetitive motion, falling limbs, vehicle/equipment crashes.
Common misconception
Seasonal landscapers think they can avoid WC by laying off in winter. The premium is annualized to payroll — winter has no employees but auditors still verify accurately.
What it does NOT cover
Owner exclusion. Valid 1099 with WC. Drug/alcohol injuries.
The gap — what happens without it
A chainsaw kickback severely lacerates a tree-service worker's leg — surgery, infection, 6 months out — $120K medical, $25K wages. WC handles. Without WC, you're personally liable.
What drives your premium
Payroll, class codes (0042 landscape gardener vs. 0106 tree pruning — much higher), state, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Voluntary comp for owners. All-states. Tree-pruning class codes priced separately.
Commercial Auto
Covers vehicles used for business purposes
What it covers
Pickup trucks pulling trailers loaded with mowers, dump trucks, chip trucks. Trailer claims are common.
Common misconception
Owners think personal auto covers a truck pulling a work trailer 'because it's mine.' Personal auto excludes business use.
What it does NOT cover
Personal vehicles used for business. Trailers not on policy. Cargo.
The gap — what happens without it
A trailer disconnects from your truck on the highway, causing a multi-vehicle accident — $480K combined claims. Commercial auto with $1M CSL pays. Without it, business closes.
What drives your premium
Number/type of vehicles, trailer count, MVRs, radius, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Trailer coverage. Hired/non-owned. Hitch/coupling rider.
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment)
Covers tools, equipment, and materials in transit or at job sites
What it covers
Mowers, blowers, edgers, chainsaws, stump grinders, skid steers — high-value rolling stock that's a constant theft target.
Common misconception
Landscapers think trailer locks are enough. Targeted theft of zero-turn mowers and skid steers is so common in some markets that carriers require GPS tracking.
What it does NOT cover
Mysterious disappearance (some). Items left unsecured. Mechanical breakdown.
The gap — what happens without it
A trailer with two zero-turns ($24K) is stolen overnight. With inland marine, replacement covered minus deductible. Without it, you're out 30% of your annual fleet.
What drives your premium
Equipment value, GPS tracking, locking, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Scheduled equipment. Newly acquired property. Borrowed/rented equipment.
Important Coverage
Commercial Umbrella
Extends limits above your primary policies
What it covers
Excess over GL/auto/EL. Tree work and equipment-on-roads claims can exceed $1M.
Common misconception
Operators don't think umbrella is needed for 'a lawn business.' One auto-trailer accident at highway speed proves otherwise.
What it does NOT cover
Pollution unless follow. Punitive (some states).
The gap — what happens without it
A multi-vehicle pile-up from a runaway trailer hits $2.6M total. $1M auto pays first; umbrella covers $1.6M.
What drives your premium
Fleet, tree work %, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Pollution follow. Per-project aggregate.
Pollution Liability
Covers environmental contamination claims excluded by GL
What it covers
Pesticide/herbicide overspray on neighboring property, fuel spills from equipment, fertilizer runoff into waterways.
Common misconception
Landscapers spraying chemicals think GL covers them. Standard CGL absolutely excludes pollution — including legitimate pesticide application that drifts.
What it does NOT cover
Knowingly exceeding label rates. Asbestos. Pre-existing contamination.
The gap — what happens without it
Herbicide drifts to a neighboring organic farm, killing $35K of crops and forcing the farm to lose organic certification (long-tail loss). Pollution policy pays. CGL would deny.
What drives your premium
Application revenue %, applicator licenses, geographic area, claims
Endorsements to ask about
Pesticide/herbicide application endorsement. Transportation pollution.
Not sure what you need?
Text us your trade and state — we'll tell you exactly what coverages apply to your business and shop the market for the best rate.