We charge for the exact time worked, with clear hourly rates and no rounding up.
This allows gardens, properties and projects to be cared for properly — without rushing, guesswork or inflated estimates.
All work is charged according to the type of service provided and reflects the actual time spent on site.
Below you’ll find our current garden care services and rates.
Garden Butler Care
£26.50 per hour (per Garden Butler)
Our core maintenance service is designed to provide steady, long-term stewardship of gardens throughout the year.
Typical work includes:
Lawn care
Border maintenance
Weeding
Pruning
Hedge and shrub care
Planting
Mulching
Soil improvement
Wildlife-aware gardening
General garden presentation
This rate applies to regular garden maintenance clients receiving ongoing Garden Butler care.
Estate Butler Care
£30.00 per hour (per Estate Butler)
For projects, specialist work and wider property support services.
This may include:
Garden & Estate Clearances
Seasonal Cutbacks
Property Butler Services
Utility Butler Services
Vacant Property Care
Probate & Estate Support
Property Sale Preparation
Garage & Outbuilding Organisation
Property Presentation Projects
One-Off Project Work
These projects often require greater planning, coordination, decision-making and flexibility than routine maintenance work.
Charging hourly allows us to respond properly as a project develops, without rushing work to fit a fixed quotation.
Travel Notice
Our standard rates apply throughout Sandwich and the immediate surrounding area.
For gardens further afield, travel is charged at 55p per mile from our Sandwich base, calculated as a round trip.
Invoicing
Garden Butler Care clients are invoiced fortnightly.
Estate Butler projects, seasonal work, clearances and one-off services 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.
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 collection structure depends on the type of booking.
Garden Butler Maintenance Plans
For clients receiving ongoing Garden Butler care, routine green waste handling is available as a simple monthly add-on.
£4.50 per month
For gardens producing approximately 1–3 × 125-litre bags of green waste per month.
£8.00 per month
For gardens producing approximately 4–8 × 125-litre bags of green waste per month through routine hedge, shrub and general garden maintenance.
These monthly rates cover the collection and responsible disposal of routine green waste generated during regular maintenance visits.
Where practical, we aim to recycle, compost or reuse as much material as possible.
Estate Butler Projects & Heavy Cutbacks
For Estate Butler projects, seasonal work, garden and estate clearances, property support projects, or heavier cutbacks, waste is charged at:
£2.00 per 125-litre bag
You are only charged for waste actually removed. If no waste is collected, there is no charge.
This approach keeps costs clear, proportionate and aligned with the type of work being carried out.
Please Note
Green waste removal is provided by agreement during scheduled visits.
On occasion, we can also remove small quantities of brown waste (soil) or grey waste (non-green items). Additional charges may apply depending on the type, volume and disposal requirements.
As a registered Lower Tier Waste Carrier, we aim to recycle, compost or reuse as much material as possible wherever practical.
Check out the FAQ for more information
Why We Charge Hourly
Gardens, properties and projects are rarely as straightforward as they first appear.
Hidden roots, compacted soil, weather conditions, access restrictions, unexpected repairs, changing priorities, and client requirements can all affect the time genuinely required.
Fixed prices rely on estimates and contingencies. Hourly pricing removes much of that uncertainty.
It means lighter work costs less, more complex work receives the attention it deserves, nothing is rushed to protect a quotation, and clients pay only for the time actually worked.
We believe this is the fairest and most transparent way to deliver Garden Butler and Estate Butler services.
Rates are reviewed periodically to support the continued quality, reliability, and sustainability of our service.
2026 rate. Rates are reviewed periodically and may change in future years.
