Creative Garden Ideas For Small Maltese Spaces

A balcony, a sunny terrace or a narrow strip outside a townhouse is enough to start growing something interesting. These ideas show how everyday household items and a bit of imagination can turn compact outdoor corners into proper growing spaces.

Unlikely containers make surprisingly good planters

Before buying anything new, look around the house. A plastic bag dispenser, lined loosely with newspaper and topped with soil, gives bulbs and small plants room to grow while still allowing air and water to drain through properly. It is a neat option for balconies where every surface needs to earn its place, and it costs nothing beyond what is already sitting in a cupboard. The same thinking works with other household containers that have been retired from their original job but still hold their shape well.

ASKHOLMEN plant stand, dark brown, 45x116x32 cmBRUNBÄR plant pot with saucer, outdoor terracotta, 15 cmNYPON plant pot, in/outdoor grey, 24 cmBOYSENBÄR plant pot, in/outdoor light grey, 9 cmBOYSENBÄR plant pot, in/outdoor light grey, 15 cmBOYSENBÄR plant pot, in/outdoor light grey, 24 cm

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Build a trellis from things you already own

A rustic trellis does not need to come from a garden centre. Old bed slats, measured and cut to size, can be tied together to make a simple frame for climbing plants, and the look suits the warm, relaxed feel of a Maltese courtyard. For something with more character, kitchen utensils arranged and fixed in a similar pattern make an unusual wall decoration that doubles as a talking point. Either version is a good weekend project for anyone with basic tools and a bit of patience.

Turn a blank wall into growing space

In apartments and maisonettes with little floor space, walls are often the most underused area. Mounting a few wire trellises opens up a vertical growing zone, with plastic bottle planters attached using gardening wire and small glass tubes or vases tucked in for bulbs and stem cuttings. This approach suits sheltered walls that catch good light without taking the full force of summer sun, and it keeps plants off the ground where space is tightest.

Let a trolley do the hard work

A trolley with a few shelves can solve a lot of small space gardening problems at once. Use the top for newly planted seeds and a watering can, the middle for spare pots and tools, and the bottom for heavier bags of soil or compost. Because it moves on wheels, it is easy to shift in and out of shade as the Maltese sun moves through the day, which matters during the long, hot summer months when plants need more careful positioning.

NISSAFORS trolley, black, 50.5x30x83 cmVESKEN trolley, white, 54x18x71 cmNISSAFORS trolley, white, 50.5x30x83 cmNISSAFORS trolley, beige, 50.5x30x83 cmHORNAVAN trolley, white, 26x48x77 cmVESKEN trolley, black, 54x18x71 cm

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Crates, bins and painted boxes for flexible planting

Plastic bins are practical for growing vegetables, light to carry and easy to rearrange as the season changes, as long as a few drainage holes are added to the base. Old crates stacked on a bench or table work well too, and a coat of paint on plain wooden boxes turns them into something worth displaying on a terrace or in a courtyard. Once plants are sorted into sturdy, transparent storage boxes such as IKEA's SAMLA range, tools and spares stay organised on a shelf rather than scattered around the growing area.

SAMLA box with lid, transparent, 57x39x28 cm/45 lSAMLA box, transparent, 56x39x28 cm/45 lSAMLA box, transparent, 78x56x43 cm/130 lSAMLA box, transparent, 39x28x28 cm/22 lSAMLA box with lid, transparent, 79x57x43 cm/130 lSAMLA box with lid, transparent, 39x28x28 cm/22 l

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Small outdoor spaces across Malta and Gozo can hold more greenery than they first suggest, and the right trolley, trellis or storage box makes it manageable.

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