We charge for the exact time worked, with clear hourly rates and no rounding up. This allows gardens to be cared for properly — without rushing, guesswork, or inflated estimates.
For pricing on garden-specific work, see the categories below.
Green Garden Maintenance
£26.50 per hour per Butler
Our core service. Steady, long-term care designed to keep gardens healthy, tidy, and resilient over time.
Typical work includes lawn care, border maintenance, pruning, hedge and shrub care, planting, mulching, soil improvement, and wildlife-aware methods.
Outdoor Utility & Support Maintenance
£26.50 per hour per Butler
Available either as part of routine visits or as stand-alone work.
This may include patio and driveway weeding, jet washing, turfing, bed dressing, greenhouse care, soft landscaping, composting support, wildlife-focused care, planting plans, and plant sourcing.
Garden, Estate Clearances & Seasonal Cutbacks
£30.00 per hour per Butler
For heavier, overgrown, or time-sensitive work that requires careful opening up and restructuring of gardens.
This may include reductions, bed reclamation, invasive growth removal, pre-tenancy resets, storm aftermath, and neglected areas.
Charging hourly allows for careful decisions as the garden reveals itself — without rushing or cutting corners to protect a fixed quote.
Light Maintenance & Outdoor Repairs
£26.50 per hour per Butler
Handled by our Project Utility Butlers, covering practical outdoor support tasks closely related to garden care.
This includes minor fence or gate repairs, shed care, outdoor furniture assembly, and basic outdoor fixes.
Materials are charged separately if required
Travel Notice
Our standard rates apply throughout Sandwich and the immediate surrounding area.
For gardens further afield, travel is charged at 45p per mile from our Sandwich base, calculated on a round-trip basis.
Invoicing
Regular maintenance clients are invoiced fortnightly.
Seasonal work, garden clearances and one-off projects are invoiced at the end of the week in which the work is carried out.
All invoices reflect the actual time worked. We do not estimate, bundle or round up charges.
Green Waste Collection (Optional)
Earthly Comforts is a registered Lower Tier Waste Carrier. We are not a waste company, but we offer green waste removal as optional support during your gardening visit.
Our waste structure depends on the type of booking.
Green Maintenance Plans (Regular Clients)
For clients on ongoing maintenance plans, waste handling is charged as a simple monthly add-on:
£4.50 per month
For gardens producing 1–3 x 125-litre bags of green waste per month.
£8.00 per month
For gardens producing approximately 4–8 x 125-litre bags of green waste per month as part of routine hedge, shrub or general maintenance.
These monthly rates cover routine green waste generated during regular garden care.
Project & Heavy Cutbacks
For seasonal work, garden clearances or heavier cutbacks, waste is charged at:
£2 per 125-litre bag
You are only charged for waste actually removed. If no waste is collected, there is no charge.
This structured approach keeps costs clear, proportional and aligned with the type of work carried out.
Please Note
Green waste removal is provided by agreement during scheduled visits.
On occasion, we can also remove small amounts of Brown Waste (soil) or Grey Waste (non-green items). An additional charge may apply when requested.
Check out the FAQ for more information
Why We Charge Hourly
Gardens are living systems, not static jobs.
Hidden roots, compacted soil, weather conditions, self-seeded growth, and past maintenance all affect how long work genuinely takes.
Fixed prices rely on estimates and buffers. Hourly pricing removes them.
It means lighter work costs less, heavier work is handled properly, nothing is rushed to protect a quote, and you only pay for the time actually worked.
This is the fairest way to care for gardens — and the most honest way to run a service built on trust.
Rates are reviewed annually to ensure the continued quality, reliability, and sustainability of our service.
