Are you looking at putting in an irrigation system in or are you looking for drought tolerant plants?

It seem like you have western sun on the back of the house due to the blinds in you patio photo. To combat this the new roof could be angled low on the west and high over the house as in a fly over roof. Maybe shade sail over the spa attached to the patio roof and lots of tropical plants. It is hard to guess from the photos but if you link the two areas with decking & add gardens surrounding it for shelter. Do you need a fence around the spa? Others have said that the composite decking is good and it won't rot like timber or at least is low maintenance for a wet area.

Hi Rick, As a spa is a time for R&R it is important for it to feel like a secluded space away from the hustle and bustle of life. I would remove the stick fencing and paint the existing fence in that corner white or whitewash. From here I would add bamboo along the left hand side of the safety fence to increase privacy and the 'retreat' feel, leaving the side with the entrance open. Planting a wide variety of tropical plants will enhance the space further, lots of green but do not be afraid to mix in some purples and pinks here and there. If you are scared of killing the plants, succulents are really hard to kill. Even installing a few simple shelves on the far fence to hold candles and other decorative items will make the space come together. Fairy lights are great for outdoor spaces used at night also, solar powered options are available. You even have the option to include some seating as you have so much space. Again, going white will really lift the space. Some fun hooks on the fence would be awesome for towel/robe storage also.

We’ve decommissioned our in ground spa. We have put plenty of drainage holes in it, a bed of scoria and now covering that with rubble from the surrounding pavers. To make it suitable for grass would be and enormous task as it would be expensive to bring the ground level down to allow enough soil for grass, and there would be the ongoing drama of sinkage over the hole. We don’t want fake grass. Ideally, I’d like it to be a nice place to sit when the weather allows it. We live on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. The area faces south. The bamboo fence with be replaced with something similar but the pool fencing and glass is being removed. Do we continue with the pebble garden and some paving? Decking? We are looking for a reasonably priced solution. Help please 😊