Before I try and answer this question, grab a pen and pad of paper and head outdoors for a quick look-see. Count the number of trees that you have, the number of plants and the landscape features that occupy your garden. Now try and calculate the cost of replacing it all.

$300. $3000. Or perhaps $30,000. Sure, it's priceless because you can't add your blood, sweat and tears to the mix nor are 30-year-old trees readily available from your local nursery. And garden insurance can't insure you for any of that.

Yet consider what would happen to your garden should a bushfire, hurricane or other natural disaster reduce your gardening efforts to a glorified junk pile. The sheer devastation and angst would be unbearable knowing that you would have to rebuild it and you possibly wouldn't have the money on hand for a timely fix.

Now, let me ask the question again, "Is garden insurance worth it?"

Possibly these thoughts have been entertained in your mind before and you've reconciled yourself that in such an event you will just have to rebuild...regardless of the time frame and cost. But, it's conceivable that you've never considered such an outcome and this post has now got put this item on your Top Ten Fears list just above Global Terrorism.

Before you panic and start ringing every insurer looking for the cheapest plan you may want to check your current home policy. Some companies already include your yard and garden items (including tools, sheds, plants, trees and even garden ornaments) in your home insurance with minimal excess rates. They may even cover vandalism and theft by those well-meaning party guests who decided your prized garden gnome (now there's an oxymoron) was indeed a prize.

If it doesn't then you might want to resume your first response and panic and start ringing every insurer looking for the cheapest plan.

Before you do though, there are a couple of items you need to consider before signing up;

1. Does the insurance plan cover natural disasters? If it doesn't then you're probably wasting your time and money as this is the biggest cause of garden damage.
2. Is the excess greater than the risk of losing a few plants? For instance, if a storm came through your property and felled your large 30+-year-old tree would a replacement be cheaper than the policy excess? If so, keep your money.
3. Does the policy include debris removal costs? No? Find one that does because this is going to be a huge cost by the time you employ tree loppers, earth-movers etc.
4. Will your garden insurance cover theft and vandalism? As sad as it may sound this is 'up there' with the top reasons people claim on insurance policies. Grass trees have become the fashion accessory here in Oz and at $500 per tree are also becoming the folly of garden thieves.

I guess the point of this post is not to scare-monger but to at least get you thinking about possible disasters and how you may handle them. Taking out garden insurance is one option but it's not the only path to take.