Summer is often the busiest and most profitable season for landscapers, but the same conditions that keep crews booked solid also raise the odds of a costly incident. Equipment breakdowns, employee injuries, property damage, vehicle accidents, utility line strikes, and pollution-related incidents involving fertilizers or pesticides all become more likely as workloads increase.
Having the right landscaping insurance in place helps protect the business and its team through its busiest, highest-exposure months. Below, we cover the risks that spike in summer, the coverages that matter most, and the signs your current program no longer fits your operation.
Summer Risks Landscapers Overlook
In spring, landscapers tend to focus on sharpening blades, servicing mowers, and getting crews scheduled. Insurance may get left off that to-do list, even though summer changes the risk picture more than any other season.
Heat is part of that shift, with crews working long hours outdoors. But heat is only one part of what makes the job dangerous. A federal safety review found that vehicle strikes, moving machinery, chemical exposure, and contact with power lines all pose a threat on any given job site. The data shows that more than 1,000 landscaping and groundskeeping workers suffered fatal workplace injuries over a recent 10-year span.
Summer’s busier schedules add to the exposure. Routes get tighter as job volume increases, which means more driving, more rushed stops, and less margin for error near a customer’s sprinkler line or a utility line overhead.
Missouri weather doesn’t make things easier. Thunderstorms and hail peak during the same months landscaping crews are busiest, and either one can damage a mower or delay jobs.
What Insurance Does a Landscaping Business Need?
A handful of core coverages address the claims landscaping businesses see most often in summer.
- General liability insurance, often referred to as landscaping liability insurance, protects against third-party injury and property damage claims.
- Workers’ compensation covers employee injuries, crucial as crews put in longer hours in the heat.
- Commercial auto coverage protects work vehicles and trailers on the road between jobs.
- Equipment breakdown coverage addresses the cost of a mower, trimmer, or irrigation system failing at the worst possible time.
Depending on the services a company offers, professional liability, pollution coverage for fertilizer and pesticide exposure, and umbrella insurance can round out a complete insurance program for landscaping businesses.
Is Your Coverage Current?
Business growth has a way of outpacing insurance. If your business looks different today than it did when you last purchased insurance, your coverage likely deserves a fresh review.
Adding employees, taking on subcontractors, expanding into new service areas, or picking up work such as irrigation, tree trimming, landscape design, or nursery operations can all open coverage gaps. Additional areas of concern include hiring seasonal workers, buying new equipment, or expanding service offerings without updating the policies behind them.
Stay Protected This Summer
The landscaping insurance that Missouri businesses rely on should evolve alongside changing equipment, workforces, and service offerings. Reviewing coverage in advance helps reduce unexpected financial setbacks and keeps projects moving when something goes wrong.
Contact Sine Group Insurance to review your current landscaping insurance and confirm it’s ready for whatever summer brings.
FAQ About Landscaping Insurance
Does landscaping insurance cover damage to a customer’s property?
General liability insurance typically covers accidental damage to a customer’s property, such as a sprinkler line cut during digging or a fence damaged by equipment. Coverage details vary by policy, so it’s worth confirming the specifics with an agent.
Is workers’ compensation required for landscaping businesses in Missouri?
Missouri requires workers’ compensation coverage for businesses with five or more employees; construction businesses need it with just one employee. Given the physical demands of landscaping work, many smaller companies carry it regardless of whether they’re required to.
How often should a landscaping business review its insurance coverage?
An annual review is a reasonable baseline, but any major change, such as new employees, new equipment, or added services, is a good reason to revisit coverage sooner. Proactive reviews help catch gaps before the busiest months begin.
About Sine Insurance
At Sine Insurance Group, we are dedicated to providing you with custom-tailored insurance policies to protect your assets. Our comprehensive packages have been expertly crafted to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas for the past 25 years. For more information about our products, contact us today at (855) 700-0889.