Hi mike, We have the perfect solution for you! Designer Plants is a supplier of Artificial Vertical gardens. Our vertical garden panels look amazing, are easy to install, and they require no maintenance. Please see our website, www.designerplants.com.au - have a look at the many styles of garden panels we have available, If you see one you're interested in please take advantage of our free samples. Feel free to get in touch should you have an inquiry. Good luck with your project. :)

Our puppy (now 12months) digs and destroys our garden. She chews the vines/creepers (especially the stems) and the plastic trellis... She also loves to sit on an outdoor storage box (plastic brown wicker look from outdoor shops)... When I remember, we give her some toys (plastic bottles with dog biscuits inside with lid screwed back on, chicken wing inside frozen ice cream container of water, 'Kongs' with peanut butter inside, bones (uncooked) and lots of walks/exercise to tire them out. Chewing is a big thing with the development of their teeth/gums etc. I know I need to do more training with her too... (Yes - already she has 'us' well trained!) Hope you manage to enjoy both garden and dog.

Your problem is the heat generated by the fence and the pool and path. Anything you plant will have to be super tough. All plants loose and replace their leaves. Evergreen drop some leaves all the time and deciduous once a year. Adding pebbles will only reflect more heat and is becoming a dated look along with the cordylines. I'm not sure of your climate but a bullet proof evergreen plant that will cover the fence and take sun, drought and frost is the nandina domestica. Upright growing but no pruning required. There are new varieties of this plant but this one is just the right height to cover the fence. If you get cold weather in winter you will also get autumn colour. Will sucker from the bottom to fill the gap but not a garden thug. Has berries but because of the upright habit should fall into the garden bed. Sometimes called sacred bamboo but not a bamboo.

So many great suggestions here for you! What a fabulous house to work with. I would extend the pergola out to where the BBQ is, but scrap it. I also suggest replacing the brick paved area with large creamish pavers & use the bricks to pave the path in a bit if a curve. Utilize the curved area for seating widening the steps as suggested. A couple of large pots with citrus either side. These could be planted later as the garden progresses. Also a grape vine or wisteria planted to grow over the pergola would give summer shade & let light into the house in winter. I would screen the granny flat with either a few hardy bushes or a lattice type screen & grow a passion-fruit, kiwi fruit or climbing rose. If you don't like the climbing thing something structural like yucca's or cordylines, both low maintenance - talk to your local nursery, they are the experts. They may offer garden design too. Also have a look at http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/ Just put in your postcode & you get a list of plants with pictures, descriptions etc. Enjoy your garden room. Good luck.