Garden timer setup in Exeter
Professional garden timer setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
0.5-1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garden watering timer installed and programmed to water your plants automatically. Perfect for holidays, busy schedules, or just making life easier.
Your Plants Shouldn't Depend On You Remembering
You've got a garden full of pots. Or a greenhouse. Or beds that need regular watering in summer. And you've got a life that doesn't revolve around watering schedules.
Forget once during a hot spell and everything's wilting. Go on holiday and come back to plant carnage.
Or you diligently water every day, standing there with a hose, when you could be doing literally anything else.
💡 Pro tip: Automatic watering doesn't just save time - it's more consistent than human memory, which means healthier plants and less stress.
Why Timer Setup Needs Proper Attention
It's not just plugging it in and hoping. Here's what makes the difference:
| ✅ Set Up Properly | ❌ Guesswork Install |
|---|---|
| Timer matched to your needs | Whatever was cheapest |
| Schedule based on plant types | Random "twice a day" setting |
| Battery/power checked | Dies the day you leave |
| Tested before you rely on it | Find out it doesn't work when plants die |
The issue? Garden timers look simple but there are lots of ways to get it wrong - wrong duration, wrong frequency, wrong time of day.
Pricing
| Service | Time Needed | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single timer setup and programming | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Multiple zones or complex system | 1 hr | £60 |
| Timer supply + full system setup | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Timer cost additional if supplied - typically £15-£60 depending on features.
What Gets Done
🔧 Complete Timer Setup
- Assess - understand what needs watering, when, how long
- Install - connect timer to tap, check seals and flow
- Program - set schedule appropriate for your plants
- Test - run through cycle to verify everything works
- Explain - show you how to adjust or override when needed
✅ You're left with:
- Working automatic watering system
- Schedule suited to your plants
- Knowledge of how to adjust it
- Battery/power checked and good to go
Perfect for These Situations
✅ Holidays - plants survive while you're away
✅ Busy life - consistent watering without daily effort
✅ Container gardening - lots of pots need regular water
✅ Greenhouse - regular moisture critical for seedlings
✅ Forgetful - timer remembers when you don't
✅ Elderly/mobility - standing with hose gets difficult
Why Choose Us for Garden timer setup in Exeter?
Timer properly programmed for your plants
Automatic watering on schedule
Perfect for holidays or busy life
Battery and connections checked
What to Expect
Step 1: Understand Your Needs
We'll discuss what needs watering, how often, for how long. Different plants need different schedules - pots vs borders vs greenhouse all different.
Step 2: Install & Program
Timer gets connected to your tap, sealed properly, programmed with appropriate schedule. I'll explain what settings I've used and why.
Step 3: Test & Teach
Run it through a cycle to check everything works. Show you how to manually trigger it, adjust timing, replace battery, override for rain.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to set up a garden timer yourself? Here's how to get it right:
🔧 Choosing a timer
- Mechanical: cheap, simple, but basic (one cycle per day usually)
- Digital: multiple programs possible, more precise
- Smart: phone control, weather-aware, but pricier
- Battery vs mains: battery is easier but needs changing yearly
📋 Programming basics
- Start with manufacturer's instructions (keep them!)
- Water in early morning (reduces evaporation and disease)
- Duration: pots need 5-10 mins, borders 15-30 mins depending on setup
- Frequency: depends on weather and season - adjust as needed
- Test before relying on it
💧 Watering schedules that work
- Summer: daily for pots, 2-3 times weekly for borders
- Spring/Autumn: every 2-3 days for pots, weekly for borders
- Winter: very little needed unless in greenhouse
- After rain: override and skip that day
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Watering too often for too short (surface only, roots stay dry)
- Forgetting to change battery before holiday
- Not testing the system before leaving
- Ignoring seasonal adjustment needs
💡 Pro trick: Set your timer to run in the evening before you test it, then check in the morning. Gives you time to fix any issues before you actually need to rely on it.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌱 Holiday lifesaver: A £20 timer and 30 minutes setup can save hundreds in replacement plants. Plus you actually enjoy your holiday instead of worrying.
Seasonal adjustment: Your summer watering schedule will drown plants in spring. I'll program something sensible for now and explain how to adjust as seasons change.
Manual override matters: Good timers let you trigger a cycle manually (for when you've been potting up) or skip a cycle (after heavy rain). Make sure you know how.
Battery replacement: If you've got a battery timer, put a reminder in your phone for next spring to check/replace battery. Dead battery = dead plants.
Combine with system setup: If you haven't got drip irrigation or soaker hoses yet, I can help set that up too. Timer's only useful if you've got something to time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of garden timers can you set up?
Any type really - simple mechanical dial timers, digital programmable ones, smart timers you can control from your phone. I'll help you choose what suits your setup and show you how to adjust it yourself afterwards.
Do I need to buy the timer first or can you supply one?
Either works. If you've bought one and can't figure out the programming, I'll get it sorted. Or tell me what you need to water and I can advise what timer to get and supply it as part of the job.
Can you set up timers for multiple zones or just one tap?
Can do multiple zones with the right equipment - pots on one schedule, borders on another, greenhouse on a third. We'll discuss what you need and whether your current setup supports it or needs upgrading.
What about when I'm on holiday - will it definitely work?
That's exactly when you need it reliable. I'll test it thoroughly, make sure battery is fresh (if battery-powered), check connections are tight, and explain how to verify it's working before you leave. Peace of mind stuff.
Do you include setting up the actual watering system or just the timer?
Timer setup includes connecting to your existing hose/irrigation. If you need help laying soaker hoses or setting up drip irrigation, that's additional work we can discuss - but I can definitely help with the whole system if needed.
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