"Hey that's a great question - do you mind if I ask you something first?"..."Is there a reason you prefer to pay for gardening hourly?"
If via email you can try to move it to an in person quote or call (more memorable/another touch point) before answer. Something like "Mind if we hop on a quick call so I can hear what you are thinking about having done?" then go to the above lines.
See where it goes from there. Perhaps consider having minimums if done hourly and a "cheeky" response (as you Brits would say) if the conversational vibe is right "Well I don't do hourly because I work so fast!". Lots of room to play around and see what works best here rather than just let them go.
If via email you can try to move it to an in person quote or call (more memorable/another touch point) before answer. Something like "Mind if we hop on a quick call so I can hear what you are thinking about having done?" then go to the above lines.
See where it goes from there. Perhaps consider having minimums if done hourly and a "cheeky" response (as you Brits would say) if the conversational vibe is right "Well I don't do hourly because I work so fast!". Lots of room to play around and see what works best here rather than just let them go.