Why is your Green Garden Maintenance hourly rate £26.50?
Our hourly rate reflects the professional, consistent, and fully compliant service we provide. Earthly Comforts operates with fully trained, full-time gardeners, carries appropriate insurance, manages waste responsibly, and works with structured scheduling and continuity. Our pricing is reviewed to remain fair and reflective of ongoing operating costs.
Why are Garden Clearances & Seasonal Cutbacks charged at £30.00 per hour?
Clearance and heavy seasonal work involve a different level of labour and resources than regular maintenance. These projects often require intensive cutting, removal of overgrowth, increased waste handling, additional equipment use, and higher physical demand.
The £30.00 per hour rate reflects the nature of this work and ensures it can be carried out efficiently, safely and responsibly.
Do you offer different rates?
Our standard Green Garden Maintenance 2026 rate is £26.50 per hour. From time to time, legacy clients may sit on transitional rates as part of structured review cycles. However, all gardens are gradually aligned to our current pricing framework to ensure fairness and consistency.
What Your Hourly Rate Covers
This rate covers everything needed for a reliable, professional service, including:
Loyalty & Advocate Benefits — reward credits and recognition for regular clients
Fully Trained Gardener Butlers — skilled and consistent team members, not trainee labour
Public Liability Insurance — protection for your property and peace of mind
Registered Waste Handling — responsible disposal in line with regulations
Structured Scheduling — year-round, planned visits with diary continuity
Time-Based Transparency — charged only for time worked, no hidden packages
Business Continuity — structured team model provides reliable coverage
Eco-Conscious Practice — soil-aware, wildlife-friendly methods where possible
What is the Earthly Comforts Loyalty/Advocate Programme?
Our Loyalty/Advocate Programme is available to clients who choose to display an Earthly Comforts window poster in a visible location. Participation is entirely optional and recognises clients who actively support and advocate for our work within the community.
Clients enrolled in the programme receive one tick for each paid garden visit, plus three additional ticks per month for displaying the poster. A further one-tick acknowledgement is awarded for each successful client referral. Each tick carries a value of £0.50, and once 20 ticks have been accrued, a £10 reward is earned. This may be taken as a £10 credit toward a future Earthly Comforts invoice or as a £10 reward with one of our selected independent Sandwich partners. The programme is applied consistently and transparently and does not alter our pricing or billing structure.
I heard prices might change — how often do you review rates?
We review pricing periodically to provide transparency and notice. Scheduled reviews help ensure pricing remains fair and reflective of the service delivered. If you ever have questions about timing or your specific rate, we’re always happy to explain.
What areas do you cover?
We’re based in Sandwich and work within roughly an eight-mile radius, including nearby villages. Keeping our work local allows us to offer consistency, familiarity, and long-term care rather than rushed visits spread too thinly.
Do you offer one-off visits or only regular maintenance?
Both. Some clients want steady, ongoing care; others need occasional help or seasonal attention. We’re happy to work either way, as long as expectations are clear and the garden’s long-term health remains the priority.
What’s the difference between maintenance and a project garden?
Maintenance focuses on continuity — keeping a garden healthy and manageable over time. Project gardens are more considered pieces of work, often involving change, reduction, or re-thinking how a space is used. We approach these more slowly and thoughtfully.
Why don’t you always recommend frequent mowing or heavy tidying?
Gardens don’t benefit from constant interference. Many lawns, borders, and plants thrive better with fewer, well-timed interventions rather than regular cutting for appearance alone.
Are you happy to work in gardens that feel overgrown or neglected?
Yes. In fact, many gardens we’re asked to help with have been left for a while. We don’t judge—we assess, discuss priorities, and gradually bring things back into balance.
Do you use chemicals or pesticides?
Where possible, we work with organic, wildlife-friendly methods and avoid chemical use. Sometimes intervention is necessary, but we always explain why and look for the least disruptive approach.
Why does Earthly Comforts structure green waste charges the way it does?
| Earthly Comforts is a professional garden maintenance service, not a waste disposal company. Our green waste structure reflects how we work — practical, transparent and environmentally responsible. For clients on regular maintenance plans, waste is managed through a simple monthly add-on. This avoids per-visit bag counting and keeps costs predictable across the year, reflecting the typical volume produced during routine care. For seasonal cutbacks, estate clearances or one-off work, waste is charged per 125-litre bag. This ensures pricing remains fair and proportional when volumes are significantly higher. As a registered Lower Tier Waste Carrier, we handle green waste responsibly. Wherever possible, material is retained locally and processed within our own closed-loop system, with a view to composting and returning nutrients into the soil. This circular approach reduces transport and avoids unnecessary disposal routes, supporting long-term soil health. We aim to keep pricing clear, structured and aligned with the type of work carried out — without hidden fees or bundled estimates. |
Can you help make a garden more manageable or easier to use?
Absolutely. Reducing beds, removing features, or reshaping a garden into something easier to live with are often among the most positive changes we make. A good garden should support life — not become a burden.
Will the same people look after my garden each time?
You’ll usually see one familiar gardener on the ground, supported by a small team working together behind the scenes. While faces may occasionally change, our approach does not. We work as a connected team, sharing knowledge about each garden so care remains consistent, considered, and aligned with the garden’s long-term wellbeing.
How do you handle access, privacy, and being in someone’s space?
We work quietly, respectfully, and with discretion. Many of our clients are at home while we work, others are not — either way, we treat gardens as personal spaces, not just jobs.
What if Earthly Comforts isn’t the right fit for my garden?
That’s okay. We’re not trying to be the right gardeners for everyone. Our approach suits people who value care, patience, and long-term thinking — and we’re always happy to say so honestly.
