Landscaping is one of the longest-standing and most widely used professional services. Like many other service industries, landscaping has become more eco-friendly over time and is positioned for an even more sustainable future.
Whether we’re referring to waste disposal, water conservation, tree and brush removal or anything else under the landscaping umbrella, advances in modern technology have given rise to “greener” practices that stand to have a sizable (positive) impact on the environment.
As an insurance broker, your landscaping clients may already be dipping their toes into sustainable landscaping; on the other hand, some clients might be fully immersed into this new age of landscaping and need to know more about the risks and nuances.
How do we define sustainable landscaping practices?
There are various ways to describe sustainable landscaping, and in part it depends on which practices we are referring to. But as a general idea, sustainable or eco-friendly landscaping is responsive to the surrounding environment, is in most cases regenerative, and is consistently energy efficient.
Sustainable landscaping doesn’t simply refer to grass manicuring, tree removal and soil; on a larger scale it can also describe how contractors and construction companies work with architects and planners to develop eco-friendly housing communities, office parks and more.
As the population grows and urban centers become more dense, the need for sustainability increases. That also extends to landscaping, where customers want a good-looking final product but also one that’s going to benefit their property and the environment.
Three eco-friendly landscaping methods that are gaining in popularity
So, how do landscaping companies tackle the sustainability assignment? Climate change risks have become more prevalent in recent years which places a focus on emissions and how to reduce them when possible. Many customers prefer zero-waste practices with landscaping projects, as well, which is something that green industry insurance providers haven’t dealt with much in previous years.
As we get deeper into this new age of sustainability and businesses continue to adapt, we’ve seen a few methodologies come to the forefront. Eco-friendly landscaping is still evolving, but many landscaping companies are getting ahead of the game and implementing sooner rather than later.
Modern methods of water conservation
Many landscaping companies are turning to new water conservation technology not only because they’re better for the planet – they also save money. One of the most significant eco-friendly projects in the last few years, the $1 billion Climate Pledge Arena project in Seattle, turned to rainwater collection to make the ice surface for its main tenant, the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
“Climate Pledge Arena has a large 15,000 gallon cistern to capture rainwater off the roof to make our NHL ice. Given our location on the Puget Sound, we believe it’s important to demonstrate leadership in water quality and water reuse whenever we can. Along with our Rain-to-Rink System, we also installed waterless urinals and ultra-efficient showers and have significant on-site retention tanks to reduce stormwater runoff.”
Chemical-free pest control practices
One of the increasingly-popular approaches is called integrated pest management (IPM), which focuses on reducing the use of chemicals and pesticides. It’s believed that, in the long run, IPM can limit pests while also becoming a cost-effective method. Experts recommend introducing ladybugs and companion plants as eco-friendly alternatives to pest control.
Using native plants whenever possible
Another sustainable landscaping practice that has proven effective while also limiting costs is native plants. Because native plants easily adapt to their environment, they use less water and reduce reliance on pesticides. Having an idea of which plants are best suited for a particular region can help in planning when meeting with clients.
What are the insurance risks facing sustainable landscaping?
We’ve outlined sustainable landscaping’s wide-ranging benefits and a few of the methods that have become popular. But it’s also important to know that risk is inherent, particularly when professional services companies are trying something new or different.
What you and your clients need to know
LandPro offers comprehensive insurance for the landscaping industry, which is especially timely considering the rise in sustainable practices. While this approach is considered modern and beneficial in the long term, there are still risks and unknowns to deal with.
Coverage with LandPro includes the following lawn care and landscaping insurance risks:
- Plant health care (pest control)
- Tree spraying
- Landscape gardening
- Irrigation installation
- Tree pruning and removal
- Snow and ice removal
- Subcontracted work
LandPro’s comprehensive landscaping insurance program is admitted and written in all 50 states, and carries a minimum package premium of $10,000.
Here are the main characteristics of each method of landscaping, and how they compare.
The benefits of comprehensive insurance coverage for landscaping businesses
With new developments in sustainable landscaping comes new possibilities for risk – and no insurance provider is better equipped to manage those risks than LandPro. Landscapers and lawn care specialists are faced with many challenges, not the least of which is managing complex risk and insuring themselves against loss.
Continue to focus on business growth
Many of the sustainable landscaping practices we’ve covered have long-term benefits, particularly in cost savings. Comprehensive insurance from LandPro allows business owners to continue innovating and growing their business while integrating eco-friendly methods into their portfolio.
Industry-specific coverage for landscaping
There are unique needs in sustainable landscaping, including protection against the use of organic materials or changing pest control methods. Any time there’s a change in direction, landscaping professionals should be protected – and that’s one of the strengths of LandPro’s insurance offering.
For example, native plants can (at times) be more expensive to maintain and grow as opposed to more traditional varieties. Native plants are also more difficult to find. Maintenance is often more time-consuming in a sustainable landscape setting, which means workers will be needed on the job more and need to be insured with the right coverage.
Risk control services from LandPro
LandPro is uniquely positioned to provide specialized, custom solutions to reduce interruptions to your landscaping clients’ business operations – along with minimizing risk and frequency/severity of claims.
Every insured broker partner has access to NIP Group/LandPro’s proprietary risk control learning management system (LMS), with access to hundreds of online training courses. There is also an expansive resource library with employment-related and workplace best practices articles, to pair with tailored risk control services.
The comprehensive approach of LandPro and its industry-leading expertise
NIP Group has been insuring the green industry for more than 30 years, making us experts in providing the best insurance for lawn care businesses. LandPro is the largest national liability insurance program for landscapers, with the most experience protecting these specialized businesses with the most complete, customized landscaper insurance coverage.
Learn more about LandPro and how it can protect your clients’ cleaning business by visiting our website.
