Sebastian and Lars moved into their charming Kastrup house in southern Copenhagen in 2018 and immediately began considering what to do with their outdoor space. “We had an allotment, which we bought in 2016 before we bought the house, so we were already passionate about gardening at that point,” Sebastian explains.
Once their garden was underway, friends began asking them for gardening tips. “We realized people aren’t that confident in gardening and they think it’s really complicated to make the garden look good. Actually, it’s not that difficult, and all you need to do is learn a few tips and trips, learn a bit about your own climate, and then test things out,” says Sebastian. “You won’t get it right all the time, but that’s okay.”
They launched an Instagram account, Vestbirkhave as a way to document the garden for themselves and share their garden. Soon, they were also posting their learnings – big and small – along the way. “Social media has been a great way to reach a lot of people and show them that they can do it too!” says Sebastian.
We sat down with Sebastian, one half of Vestbirkhave, to discuss his own garden and insider tips he thinks every small space gardener should know:
Tell me a bit about why you started your gardening instagram. Why did you choose to use Instagram specifically?
We started our Instagram as a diary for ourselves. As more followers has joined our account it is now a community where we can share our passion for gardening with others.
Today, we are a part of a small group where we meet at least three times a year, both because we enjoy each other’s company and because we talk about our gardens.
What do you love about gardening? What are the parts of gardening that you don’t love as much?
We love that when we are in our garden, we forget about work. We calm down and feel the stress leaving our bodies. That is why we wanted a house, so we have the garden all year round – because gardening is not only for spring and summer.
We enjoy the spring and summer most. The spring is full of hope and marks the start of a new season with all the fresh leafy greens.
During summer, we spend most of our time in the garden and we really enjoy the long bright nights, so when we get home from work it still feels like we have a whole day to enjoy in the garden.
Today, there is not much about gardening we don’t like!
You have a small space garden. What are some considerations about small gardens vs. big gardens?
By some standards we practice small-space gardening, but our space is enough for us! We don’t think there’s much of a difference between a gardening in small spaces and gardening in big spaces! Only the number of plants, containers, and time for maintenance may increase.
When creating a garden, we always recommend starting small and building on your success like a step-ladder. When you succeed with one part or type of plant, you can move onto bigger things, such as vegetable gardens or raised beds. It’s okay to start small.
What are a few misconceptions about gardening that people have?
The main misconception is that gardening is really complicated, and that it’s too much work to have a garden with flower beds, or that it’s really hard to grow vegetables. If you have dreams of harvesting your lettuce, peas, squash, and cucumbers: you can do it! You do not need to be a gardening expert, I promise.
It actually takes much more work to maintain a lawn. Not to mention that in my opinion, a lawn is boring compared to garden where you can walk around and discover plants, insects, and other life.
There’s also a misconception that less space equals a less exciting or less beautiful garden. You may be surprised how much you can do when space is limited! It’s possible to grow a lot in small outdoor spaces, especially if you’re willing to get creative: vertical gardening and container gardens are a few potential options.
What are your top five tips for people who want to get into gardening but don’t feel like they know much?
Have a plan
Have a planMake a list of what you want in your garden and consider how you envision your garden in the future. It’s important to have a plan! Growing in a small space makes this even more necessary, as you won’t have as much room for trial and error.
Find inspiration
Find inspirationInstagram is a good place to find inspiration and most garden profiles are always happy to answer questions. Whether you’re growing flowers, making a collection of potted plants, learning about organic gardening, or focusing on garden boxes, there will be gardening inspiration out there for you! Pinterest is another great source of garden design ideas, as are gardening magazines.
Plant more than one of each plant
Plant more than one of each plantWhen planting, remember it takes more than one plant to fill out a garden bed. Repetition creates a calmness but make sure you have a good variety of plants, so the insects benefit most.
Plant close
Plant closeIn this way, the result looks more finished when everything is blooming, and they’ll grow well. This will also, of course, save space and maximize space.
Remember trees!
Remember trees!Trees are like a roof on the house – plant some trees, even small ones, and the garden will feel more attractive. And yes, it’s possible to have trees growing a small space! If you only have a small garden, patio, or balcony, consider a potted tree such as a fig tree or an olive tree.
Gardening is often spoken about as something that is only done in spring and summer. What should people know about autumn and winter gardening?
We are in our garden all your round! During autumn we plant new plants or move plants around if something didn’t work during summer.
It’s always best to plant things such as perennials and trees during autumn because the plant will focus more on creating roots instead of flowers or leaves, and you don’t have to water as much. That’s a successful garden!
During winter we prepare for spring by spreading compost in the garden. When the sun is out, we are too! Of course, for those who do indoor gardening, either in a greenhouse or in the home, you can grow a garden in any season.
What are tools that every gardener must have?
The most important thing is to buy proper tools: don’t buy the cheap versions as they don’t last. It’s essential to invest in your gardening gear. Top of the list: good gloves, a strong trowel, and garden shears/garden pruner. You learn how to grow as you go, but you can’t skimp on the foundational items.
Don’t forget a good basket to keep cuttings, little bits you pick up off the ground, and your gardening items when they’re not in use!
We recommend:
You’re a big proponent of biodiversity in the garden. What does that mean and why is it important?
First up, what is biodiversity? Biodiversity is, in simple terms, variation across living things, including plants, insects, and animals. Including biodiversity in your gardening space means paying attention to the different kinds of plant varieties so that they interact in a healthy way with the insect and animal life that also exists outside. From fruiting plants to garden pests to soil and water, you need to be aware of what you grow and what you put in the earth so that the relationship between these living things stays strong and symbiotic.
One thing you may not consider is the importance of weeds. Most people consider weeds to be something that needs to be entirely removed from the garden, but actually many weeds are essential to healthy biodiversity. Research which weeds are native to your location before deciding which to remove and which to leave.
Biodiversity is so important when you consider your garden design ideas. We need to take better care of our planet: we live in a period when climate and biodiversity are struggling, and we all have to do what we can to change things. Every little change helps, and if everyone with a garden made an effort to include biodiversity into their plans, the change would be quite big.
We’ve planted many different plants and during the spring and summer there’s great activity from insects and birds which keep the garden interesting. If you work with native plants, you will see much more life in your garden from insects, small animals, and even other plants.
Follow along with Sebastian and Lars at Vestbirkehave on Instagram and their website.