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Summertime is best spent in the garden, enjoying the warm weather and longer evenings. However your garden furniture, equipment or gardening tools are at a greater risk of loss or damage at this time. Yet home insurance and a few simple precautionary measures can make your garden a safe haven this season.

Unfortunately, garden theft is a common risk for homeowners: a National Garden Crime Survey by Gardening Which? found that 1.6 million households have been a victim of garden theft in the last two years, totalling £90 million worth of items stolen. Whether it’s a child’s bike left on the lawn, your favourite garden shears left next to the hedge, or a special garden statue – these items can all be at risk from theft or loss.

Here are our top tips to secure your garden:

1. Cover your garden furniture
Keep expensive garden furniture covered when not in use, as this can deter garden thieves. It will also protect the furniture against damage; this is especially useful when wear and tear is not included in your insurance policy.

2. Don’t leave valuables unattended
It’s tempting to leave your valuables in the garden while you pop inside for lunch or to answer the phone – but opportunist thieves may use this moment to their advantage. Take all valuables inside, or hide them from view when you’re not in the garden.

3. Don’t leave the back door open
A quick and convenient lock is essential to secure your back door or garden door. As everyone dashes in and out the garden, it’s important to keep your house secure at the same time.

4. Lock your garden shed
Use a secure garden shed to store valuable gardening equipment or furniture during summer and in the winter months. John Lewis Home Insurance will protect your outbuildings against theft, as long as they are kept secure and locked.

5. Secure ornaments and expensive garden equipment
You can secure a water feature or statue, for example, using some discreet wire or setting it with concrete. This will deter thieves from making off with these valuable items from your garden.

How John Lewis Home Insurance can help?

John Lewis Home Insurance can protect your garden against loss or damage to plants, trees and contents in the open. This includes:

  • Garden tools, equipment, furniture and barbecues
  • Beehives and bird tables
  • Ornaments (including statues, urns and gnomes)
  • Garden pots and greenhouse accessories
  • Paddling pools and sandpits

Garden plants are also covered, including shrubs, trees, rockeries, bushes and vegetables. Please be aware that gardens are not covered against storm, flood or frost under our home insurance policies.

Read more

Find the right level of cover for your home and garden with our quick video guide to buying home insurance.

If you have any further questions about securing your garden, please read our Home Insurance FAQs or contact us.

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Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and acceptance criteria apply. A copy of the policy wording and insurance complaints procedure is available on request.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc.  Registered in England No. 00233462. Registered office 171 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NN. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. AXA Insurance UK plc. Registered in England No. 78950. Registered office: 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AD