🌪️ Storm Damaged Your Garden? Here's What To Do First
Last updated: February 2025
You wake up to branches everywhere, fence panels on the ground, shed roof missing. The UK just threw another storm at you. Now what?
Having cleared hundreds of storm-damaged gardens (yes, we're out there at 4AM when everyone else is asleep), here's the exact process that gets you safe, sorted, and paid back by insurance.
Step 1: Safety First (No Really)
Before you touch anything:
- Powerlines down? Stay 10 metres back. Call 105 (UK power networks emergency). Do not approach even if they "look dead".
- Tree leaning on something? Don't try to move it. Trees under tension can spring back and kill you. Seriously.
- Structural damage to house/buildings? Get everyone out. Call 999 if there's immediate danger.
- Gas smell? Turn off at meter (if safe), open windows, call 0800 111 999.
⚠️ Real Talk: Every year someone dies trying to chainsaw a fallen tree that's under tension. If a tree has fallen ON something (fence, shed, house), do not touch it. Call us or another qualified arborist. This is not a DIY job.
Step 2: Document Everything (This Gets You Paid)
Your insurance claim lives or dies on documentation. Take photos BEFORE you move anything:
- Wide shots of the whole garden showing overall damage
- Close-ups of each damaged item (fence panels, shed, trees, plants)
- Serial numbers on damaged equipment (mowers, tools, etc.)
- Receipts if you have them (but don't panic if you don't—estimates work too)
- Timestamp everything with your phone's location/date stamp turned on
Video walkthrough? Even better. Narrate what you're seeing: "This is the fence that was here yesterday, now it's in next door's garden."
💡 Pro Tip: Take photos from your neighbour's perspective too, especially if your damage affected their property. You might need to prove wind direction or what fell from where.
Step 3: Make It Safe (Emergency Repairs)
Your insurance policy usually covers "emergency temporary repairs to prevent further damage". That means:
- Tarpaulins over exposed roof/holes
- Temporary fencing if you have kids/pets/security concerns
- Removing trees/branches that pose immediate danger
- Pumping out water if flooding
Keep all receipts. Insurers usually reimburse emergency work up to £1,500-£2,500 without prior approval (check your policy).
💷 What Emergency Repairs Actually Cost
- Temporary fencing (50m run): £280-450
- Emergency tree removal (fallen on structure): £450-2,500
- Storm debris clearance (full garden): £350-900
- Emergency tarpaulin/sheeting: £150-400
- Emergency site visit/assessment: Usually free (charged against final work)
Step 4: Call Your Insurance (But Not First Thing)
Controversial take: Don't call insurance until you've:
- Made it safe (see above)
- Documented everything
- Got at least 2 quotes for repairs
Why? When you call insurance, they start a claim. If the damage is less than your excess (usually £250-500), you've just logged a claim for nothing. That affects your renewal premium even if they don't pay out.
Get quotes first. If total damage is £3,000 and your excess is £250, yes, claim. If it's £400 and your excess is £500, just pay it yourself.
Step 5: What Insurance Actually Pays For
Usually covered (buildings insurance):
- Fences, gates, outbuildings (sheds, garages)
- Permanent structures (walls, paths, driveways)
- Tree removal if tree damaged property
- Emergency access clearance
Usually covered (contents insurance):
- Garden furniture, BBQs, trampolines
- Tools, lawnmowers, equipment in shed
- Greenhouses
Usually NOT covered:
- Plants, trees, shrubs (unless you have specific "garden cover"—most don't)
- Lawns (unless damaged by falling tree/structure)
- Maintenance issues (rotten fence that was going to fall anyway)
- Gradual damage over time
🎯 Insurance Insider Tip: If a tree fell and damaged your fence AND lawn underneath, the lawn damage is claimable as "collateral damage". But if your lawn is just waterlogged from rain? Not claimable. Everything is about "sudden and unexpected" damage.
Step 6: Getting Quotes That Insurers Accept
Insurers get twitchy about vague quotes. They want:
- Itemised breakdown: "Remove fallen oak tree, 12m height, with crane access: £1,200"
- Photos referenced: "Replace 8x fence panels as shown in photos 14-18"
- Materials specified: "6ft close-board fence panels, pressure-treated timber, concrete posts"
- Clear scope: What's included, what's not, disposal costs, timescales
We provide insurance-grade quotes as standard. Most garden maintenance companies don't—they'll give you "about £500-ish mate" which gets rejected.
Step 7: The Actual Repair Timeline
Real timeline from dozens of jobs:
- Day 1: Emergency callout, site made safe, photos taken
- Days 1-3: Insurance notified, quote provided
- Days 3-10: Insurance approve (or you decide to pay yourself)
- Days 10-21: Permanent repairs completed
Storm Eunice (Feb 2022) was chaos—we had 90+ jobs in one week. If there's a named storm, everyone gets slammed. Expect 2-4 week waits for non-emergency repairs.
💷 Real Storm Repair Costs (Full Jobs)
- Typical suburban garden (fallen tree, broken fence): £1,800-3,200
- Shed destroyed, needs replacing: £800-2,500
- 50m fence panel replacement: £2,400-4,500
- Emergency drainage after flooding: £1,200-5,000
- Full garden restoration (severe storm): £5,000-15,000
What We Actually Do (Emergency Callout Process)
You call 0333 600 0990. Here's what happens:
- Dispatch answers immediately (not an answering service)
- Triage the emergency: Danger to people? Powerlines? Security risk?
- Deploy qualified team: 90 minutes for emergencies, same-day for urgent
- Site assessment: Safety first, document everything, quote on spot
- Emergency works: Make safe, clear access, secure site
- Quote permanent repairs: Insurance-grade breakdown, photos, scope
- Schedule full repair: Once approved, we're back within 2 weeks
Fixed pricing. The quote we give on-site is the price you pay. No "oh we found more damage" on invoice day.
When To Call Us vs DIY
Call professionals if:
- Tree fallen on/near house, powerlines, or boundary
- Tree still standing but damaged/dangerous
- Structural damage (shed collapsed, fence threatening to fall)
- Large branches (>15cm diameter) need cutting/moving
- You're claiming on insurance (they want qualified quotes)
DIY if:
- Small branches, twigs, leaves only
- Movable debris (plant pots, furniture)
- Minor fence repairs (1-2 panels, no posts damaged)
- Damage under £500 and you're handy
⚠️ Don't DIY This: Anything involving chainsaws near structures, working at height, or heavy lifting with machinery. Hire rates for a mini-digger might be cheap, but hospital bills aren't. And your home insurance won't cover injuries from DIY tree work.
The "Can I Cut My Neighbour's Tree?" Question
Short answer: Not without talking to them first.
If their tree fell into your garden:
- Their insurance is liable if the tree was obviously dangerous and they ignored it
- Your insurance is liable if it was healthy and just an "act of God"
- Talk to your neighbour first—most people are reasonable
- Get qualified assessment of why it fell (rotted? Healthy but extreme weather?)
We've seen neighbours fall out over £600 fence repairs. Don't be those people. Get us to assess, photograph, and report—then insurers argue it out.
Final Checklist: Storm Damage Action Plan
- ☐ Safety check—powerlines, gas, structural danger
- ☐ Photograph everything—wide shots and close-ups
- ☐ Make safe—temporary fencing, tarps, immediate hazards
- ☐ Keep receipts for all emergency work
- ☐ Get 2-3 quotes for permanent repairs
- ☐ Decide: claim or pay—is it worth the excess?
- ☐ Call insurance (if claiming) with all docs ready
- ☐ Schedule repairs with approved contractor
Need Help Right Now?
UK Landscaping Response: 0333 600 0990
24/7 emergency line. NPTC-qualified arborists. 90-minute response for emergencies. Insurance-grade quotes. Fixed pricing.
We're the people councils call when roads are blocked. We're who insurance companies recommend. And we actually answer the phone at 3AM.