Beware this insurance loophole!

Thousands of pounds' worth of your belongings may not be insured. Sort out that cover now!

Pottering in the garden makes me happy.

Over the last month, I've spent hours pruning, re-potting and planting new seedlings. Where other women buy shoes and bags, I can be found pouring over the hanging baskets in Homebase. Bliss!

Pampering your patch

It seems I'm not the only one. British Summer Time is upon us, and all over the UK people are sprucing up their herbaceous borders and shelling out for new gardening equipment.

Unfortunately, this green-fingered activity triggers a flowering of criminal activity, too. According to research by Halifax Home Insurance, garden theft increases by 63% during the summer months.

And we're not talking about a couple of plastic plant pots, here; a study by Saga found that the average cost of replacing items stolen from gardens is £378 - almost as much as the average damage costs from floods (£391).

Protect your petunias

In total, the average contents of the average garden are worth an enormous £1,237.* Despite this, more than half of us have never checked whether our home insurance actually covers the contents of our garden.

I hadn't myself until fairly recently. I have, of course, thought about protecting my other valuables (like my laptop) - but the garden angle has gone unnoticed.

When I did think about it, I doubted whether anyone would try to steal big, heavy items like patio furniture - until thieves ran off with my auntie's huge wrought iron table that must have weighed about half a tonne.

And it's not just theft you have to worry about. Vandals recently got into a friend's front garden and thought it would be fun to kick over, stamp on and generally ruin all the plants in free-standing containers. That makes me so angry!

So get it sorted now. If your existing policy doesn't cover the contents of your garden, find a new one that does - or buy extra 'add-on' cover' which protects all your plants, shrubs, vegetables, turf and lawns, rockeries, tools, shed, equipment and furniture.

The policy should also cover damage caused by theft, damage by smoke, fire, vandals and wild animals.

Eliminate garden pests

Of course, prevention is better than cure. I'd be really upset if I found a thief had trampled over my gladioli and made off with my plastic heron - insured or not.

Here are some simple security measures you can take to thwart criminal pests:

Join your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. There might be the odd Hyacinth Bucket, but there will also be lots of friendly, helpful people willing to share crime prevention advice and keep an eye on your garden while you're away.

Prickly plants keep you safe. Plant thorny bushes in all the places you think thieves may try to gain access - like next to fences and under any ground floor windows. Good options include hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, gorse, thorny cactus, bush roses and certain types of gooseberry.

Check the locks. Make sure locks and fittings on sheds and gates are secure, and that they haven't rusted or fallen apart over the winter months.

Secure but not secluded. Secure and repair all fencing, and get security lights fitted at several points around the garden. Don't make your garden completely secluded though - as this may give thieves the chance to loot your garden (or get into your house) unnoticed. The windows and doors of your house should be easily visible to the neighbours and from the street.

What's it all worth? Spend some time working out just how much the contents of your garden is worth (you might be surprised!). Take clear photos of each item, in case they are stolen. These will help the police track them down - and they'll also jog your memory when it comes to making an insurance claim.

Mark your territory. Using an ultraviolet pen, write your postcode on all valuable items (like lawnmowers, barbeques and furniture).

Glue it down! Wherever possible, stick down or chain up anything that could be carried away. For example, cement your patio table into the ground, and chain the chairs to it. If you use free-standing plant pots, get the heaviest ones you can afford and make them heavier still by putting bricks or rocks in the bottom.

Gravel protection. Put a thick layer of gravel around the most vulnerable areas of your garden. This will crunch like mad when thieves walk across it, preventing any silent midnight visits.

It's also worth checking out this virtual home, to find out more tips on how to protect your garden.

I hope this helps keep your garden the horticultural haven it should be. I'm off to glue down that plastic heron...

More: Cut the cost of your home insurance | Cheap gardening tips for beginners

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*According to Lloyds TSB.