Pond spring clean in Ottery St Mary
Looking for professional pond spring clean help in Ottery St Mary? Hembury Contracting provides reliable seasonal services across Ottery St Mary and surrounding areas.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Ottery St Mary
Garden pond spring cleaned and refreshed for the season. Winter debris cleared, pump serviced, plants tidied, and water quality checked. From murky mess to clear water in one visit.
### From Winter Swamp to Summer Feature
You avoided looking at your pond all winter. Now it's April and it looks like a **silted-up bog full of dead leaves and brown water**. Time to get it sorted before guests comment on it.
> 💡 **Pro tip:** Spring (March-April) is the perfect time for pond cleaning. Water's warming up so beneficial bacteria recover quickly, but plants haven't gone mad yet. Leave it until June and you're battling algae and overgrown weed while working in heat.
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### Why Professional Cleaning Matters
Here's the difference between a pond that looks good all summer and one that's a constant battle:
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ Bodged DIY | |------------------|---------------| | Debris out, beneficial bacteria stays | Emptied completely, ecosystem crashes | | Pump serviced, running efficiently | Pump clogged, gives up in July | | Plants divided, growth controlled | Weed takes over by August | | Fish happy, minimal stress | Fish shocked by sudden changes |
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### What You Get
**🐸 The Full Service**
| Stage | What Happens | |-------|--------------| | **Clear** | Leaves, sludge, dead plant matter removed | | **Service** | Pump cleaned, filter checked, tested | | **Tidy** | Plants divided and thinned, edges cleared | | **Check** | Water quality assessed, advice given |
**📦 You're Left With** - Clear pond ready for summer - Working pump and filter - Controlled plant growth - Happy fish (if you've got them)
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### Pricing Guide
| Pond Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay | |-----------|----------------|------------| | Small pond (up to 6x4ft) | 2 hrs | **£110** | | Medium pond (6x4 to 10x8ft) | 3 hrs | **£160** | | Large pond (10x8ft+) | 4 hrs | **£210** |
*Based on £60 minimum + £50/hr. Very neglected ponds or complete rebuilds quoted separately.*
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### Perfect For Your Pond If...
✅ **Neglected over winter** - full of leaves and debris
✅ **Murky water** - can't see the bottom
✅ **Pump problems** - spluttering or stopped
✅ **Overgrown plants** - lily pads covering everything
Why Choose Us for Pond spring clean in Ottery St Mary?
Winter debris cleared out
Pump cleaned and tested
Plants divided and tidied
Water quality checked
What to Expect
### Step 1: Assessment & Setup I'll look at what we're dealing with - how much debris, pump condition, plant situation, fish welfare. Then carefully start removing the worst of the accumulated muck. If you've got fish, I net the work area to protect them. ### Step 2: Deep Clean & Service Remove all the debris I can reach (some bottom sludge actually helps the ecosystem), pull out excess weed and dying plant matter, clean out the pump and filter properly. This is the messy bit - buckets of sludge going onto your compost heap. ### Step 3: Tidy & Test Divide any overgrown plants (lilies especially get crowded), trim back excess growth, clean up the edges. Get the pump running again, check the flow rate, make sure everything's working. Then we'll discuss water quality and any ongoing maintenance you need to do.
Our Ottery St Mary Service Coverage
We cover Ottery St Mary and a 30-mile radius from Exeter, meaning you get local service with the backing of an established business. Whether you're in the centre of Ottery St Mary or in the surrounding villages, we're here to help.
Good to Know
> 🐠 **Fish problems?** If you've got sick fish or ongoing water quality issues, I can advise but I'm not a pond specialist. Sometimes you need a proper aquatics person. I'll be honest about what's in my wheelhouse. **Green water?** Usually caused by too much sunlight, not enough plants, or overstocked fish. The clean itself helps, but you might need to add more oxygenating plants or shade (lilies). UV filters work but they're not magic - sort the underlying issues first. **Leak repairs?** Small liner repairs I can do while I'm there if I spot them. Major leaks or complete liner replacement is a bigger job quoted separately. Often find them during spring cleans when the water's disturbed. **Wildlife ponds?** Actually easier than fish ponds - frogs and newts are hardy and don't mind a bit of disruption. Just check for spawn before doing anything major (looks like frogspawn, funny enough). Newt spawn is individual eggs on plant leaves. **Autumn clean too?** Ideally yes - netting the pond in autumn stops leaves accumulating over winter. Makes spring clean much easier. I offer that too.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pond spring clean in Ottery St Mary
What does a pond spring clean actually involve?
I'll remove accumulated leaves and debris from winter, pull out excess weed and dying plant matter, clean and test the pump and filter, divide overgrown plants, check the liner for damage, and generally get it looking good for summer. If you've got fish, I work carefully to minimise stress - usually don't even need to net them out.
My pond is really murky - will you empty it completely?
Usually not needed. Most murky ponds clear up fine once the debris is out, pump's working, and plants are thinned. Completely emptying is stressful for fish and disrupts the beneficial bacteria. I'll advise honestly - sometimes it needs doing but often we can avoid it.
Do you work around fish and wildlife?
Yes - I'm careful with fish, frogs, newts, whatever's living in there. Use nets to protect them while working, don't stress them more than necessary, and check every bucket of debris before disposing it in case I've scooped up a newt. Wildlife ponds are actually easier - no fussy koi to worry about.
How long does a pond clean take?
Depends hugely on size and state. Small garden pond (6x4ft) in reasonable nick? About 2 hours. Large pond (10x12ft) that's been neglected? Could be 4 hours. I'll give you a better estimate when I see it, but I quote based on time so no surprises.
Will you advise on water quality and treatments?
Yes - I'll check what you're doing currently and suggest any changes. Most pond problems are overstocking, overfeeding, or not enough plants. I'm not selling you chemicals unless you genuinely need them. Often the fix is free (stop overfeeding, add more oxygenating plants).
Get a Free Quote in Ottery St Mary
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01392 964094Request Online QuotePricing for Ottery St Mary
* Same rates for all locations in our service area
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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