Before signing a contract with a landscaper or gardener, ask them for their proof of insurance... In most cases, the contractor’s coverage will act as the primary insurance should one of their employees get injured while on the job.
LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) March 19, 2021
Spring begins tomorrow and millions of Americans are ready to get their hands dirty to revitalize the outside of their living space with fresh flowers, plants and, in some cases, vegetables. Anyone can grow a garden, even if they don’t have access to a spacious lawn – it just takes a little planning. Mercury Insurance has three quick tips for wannabe gardeners to help make the most of the space they have available:
1. Make a Plan. Sketch out a rough plan of your garden to help define what to plant where. When choosing your plants, you’ll want to make sure you have enough space for all of them to grow, as some have longer roots than others.
2. Choose a Good Location. Be aware of the areas of your home that get the most sunlight – most flowering plants need six full hours of sun a day. If you’re planting fruit or vegetables, experts recommend finding an area at least 10 feet from your home to help avoid shadows. Soil quality is another important consideration to ensure growth. An easy way to test this is to look for areas with weed or grass growth, which indicates the soil is nutrient rich and drains well.
3. Think Outside the Box. Planting doesn’t have to be limited to squares and rows, or even horizontal space. Sowing in triangles, for example, can increase the number of plants you can grow. Using raised beds lowers the number of rows you’ll need in your garden, which increases growing space and has the added benefits of keeping out weeds, slugs and snails.
Homeowners who have more ambitious plans for their landscaping may consider hiring extra help, in which case Mercury Insurance recommends checking their coverage ahead of time.
“Before signing a contract with a landscaper or gardener, ask them for their proof of insurance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “If they don’t have coverage, you probably want to find one who does. In most cases, the contractor’s coverage will act as the primary insurance should one of their employees get injured while on the job.”
Visit Mercury’s blog for more details about how to maximize space for a garden, as well as other valuable homeowners insurance tips.
About Mercury Insurance
Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices. For more information visit http://www.mercuryinsurance.com or Facebook and follow the company on Twitter.
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