Forget about a garden edge! If you want simple, low maintenance, that will contrast and highlight your amazing fence, just plant the whole lot in and around the fence with lomandra longifolia. This will complement your eucalypts, provide a little scent from time to time, and you simple run the mower under the edge of the clumps without needing a tacky looking garden edge. Lomandra are tough and once established forget about watering them - the beauty of not having to water so often is, apart from saving water, you won't rot your fence away from dampness. If planting the whole length with lomandra, you can always break it up with an occasional (not too many or you will ruin the effect) other hardy native shrub, or smaller eucalypt such as E.Ptychocarpa. Don't make the common mistake of mixing native bushland shrubs with tropicals and exotics - the end result just looks amateurish and hodge podge.

Hi Mel! The plants mentioned above are great suggestions. You could also consider local natives such as Native Wisteria (Hardenbergia comptoniana), Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa) or the Thick-leaved Fan Flower (Scaevola crassifolia). Good luck!

Hey there Brie M! You could give Bamboo or Little Gem Magnolia - these plants will grow quickly with little maintenance. Non-flowering plants will prevent too much debris falling into the pool, too, which saves clean up time. In the meantime, have you considered DIY shade sails? They're great for immediate privacy and UV coverage while the plants grow in, and can be purchased in various colours and sizes from Bunnings. I've included some examples below: Otherwise, perhaps a market umbrella or semi-permanent gazebo may be a great solution while the hedge grows in: Hope this helps Brie! Let us know which plant you decide to go with.

They have shallow root system- so near your colourbond fence- the heat in Summer will not only dry the roots, but also burn them and the foliage. They require regular mulching and fertiliser, else the leaves yellow and they start dropping. Given you want them as the 2nd layer in your already narrow hedge, it will be a full-time job keeping them happy I think. If you are not a fan of this level of garden commitment- check out the regular mondo grass (not mini). It grows like a weed just about anywhere! Aganpanthus is another one. Both would be ideal 2nd layers and maintenance free.