Pond maintenance in Exeter
Professional pond maintenance services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-160
Typical Duration
1-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Pond maintenance service to keep your garden pond healthy and looking good. We'll clean it out, control plants, maintain equipment, and sort any problems before they get serious.
Ponds are brilliant for wildlife and look great, but they need regular care. Left alone, they fill with leaves, get choked with blanket weed, and turn into murky swamps. Pumps clog up, filters get nasty, and fish get stressed. We'll keep on top of it all so your pond stays clear and healthy.
What Needs Doing?
Ponds accumulate stuff. Leaves fall in, plants spread, algae blooms in summer, sludge builds up on the bottom. Wildlife ponds can largely look after themselves if they're balanced, but most garden ponds need help staying clear.
If you've got fish, a pump, or a filter, there's more to maintain. Filters need cleaning, pumps need checking, water quality needs monitoring. Miss it for too long and you'll have problems.
Our Approach
We'll assess what your pond needs and do it efficiently. Might be a quick tidy and filter clean, might be a full clear-out with plant control and sludge removal. We work with the pond's natural balance rather than fighting it.
Done Right vs Done Wrong
| Done Right ✅ | Done Wrong ❌ |
|---|---|
| Gradual, seasonal maintenance | Everything left until it's a swamp |
| Plants thinned, not completely removed | All plants stripped out or left to take over |
| Filters cleaned regularly | Pumps left until they fail |
| Wildlife protected during work | Everything disturbed or removed |
What You Get
When you book pond maintenance with Hembury Contracting:
| What's Included | Details |
|---|---|
| 🔧 Pond cleaning | Debris removal, plant thinning, algae control |
| ⚙️ Equipment maintenance | Pump and filter cleaning/checking |
| 🌊 Water quality check | Basic assessment and advice |
| 🐸 Wildlife care | Careful approach to protect pond life |
Plus:
- Advice on preventing future problems
- Recommendations for improvements if needed
- All waste removed from site
- Can set up regular maintenance schedule
Pricing Guide
| Service Type | Typical Cost | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Basic tidy (small pond) | £60 | 1 hour |
| Filter/pump maintenance | £85 | 1.5 hours |
| Full seasonal clean | £110-160 | 2-3 hours |
| Major clear-out/renovation | Quote | Half day+ |
Price based on hourly rate (£60 first hour, £50 per additional hour). Total depends on pond size and work needed.
💡 Pro tip: Do a big clean in autumn to remove fallen leaves and dying plants before winter, and a spring clean to clear accumulated debris and get pumps running. These two seasonal cleans prevent most problems.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Your pond's gone green or murky ✅ Plants have taken over or died back ✅ Your pump or filter isn't working properly ✅ You just want regular care without the effort
Why Choose Us for Pond maintenance in Exeter?
Keeps water clear and healthy
Controls algae and excessive plants
Maintains pumps and filters
Regular or one-off service available
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
We'll look at the pond, check the water clarity, see what plants are doing, test equipment if you've got it. Then explain what needs doing and how long it'll take.
Step 2: The Work
Could include: skimming debris, thinning pond plants, removing blanket weed, cleaning filters, checking/servicing pumps, partial water change if needed. We work carefully to avoid disturbing fish and wildlife.
Step 3: Finishing Up
All debris and weed removed from site, equipment running properly, water clearer. We'll give you advice on keeping it that way and when to call us back.
🔧 DIY Tips
If you're maintaining your own pond:
🔧 Tools you'll need:
- Long-handled pond net
- Bucket for plants/fish if needed
- Garden hose for water changes
- Pond scissors or shears for plant trimming
- Possibly a pond vacuum for sludge
📐 Basic maintenance routine:
- Weekly in summer: skim debris, check pump/filter
- Monthly: thin excessive plant growth, remove algae
- Spring: major clean, restart pump, check fish
- Autumn: net leaves, cut back dying plants, clean thoroughly
- Winter: keep surface ice-free if you have fish
⚠️ Common mistakes:
- Changing too much water at once (stresses fish, kills beneficial bacteria)
- Using tap water without dechlorinator (chlorine kills fish)
- Removing all algae (some is good, it's part of the ecosystem)
- Pressure washing the pond liner (damages it and kills beneficial bacteria)
💡 Pro trick: A well-balanced pond largely maintains itself. Enough plants to oxygenate and shade water, but not so many they take over. Bit of algae is fine. If your pond keeps going murky despite maintenance, the balance is wrong - usually too much sun, too many fish, or not enough plants.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
Combine with: General garden maintenance, water feature repair, fish care
Related services: Garden waste removal, seasonal garden tidy-ups
Best time for major work: Autumn or early spring
Regular maintenance: Monthly checks in growing season, seasonal deep cleans
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a pond need maintenance?
Depends on the pond. Small wildlife ponds might just need an annual clear-out. Fish ponds with filters need checking monthly and a good clean twice a year. We'll advise based on what you've got.
What does pond maintenance actually involve?
Clearing debris, thinning out excessive plants, cleaning filters and pumps, removing algae, checking water quality. Sometimes a partial water change. We'll do whatever your pond needs.
Will you look after fish during maintenance?
Yeah, if we're doing major work we'll net them out into a holding container with an aerator. They go back in once we're done. We're careful with them - they're usually someone's pets.
Can you fix pond problems like leaks or broken pumps?
We can sort most pumps and filters, and diagnose leak issues. Major pond repairs or liner replacement might need a specialist, but we'll tell you honestly what's needed.
Pond maintenance Also Available In:
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
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