Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..

As a minimalist I would forego all plants, put in a low wall and use slumped glass or preferably glass block. This would let in the light and also make a cosy seating area in winter. I've found glass block to be a wonderful insulator on a west facing wall - warm in winter, but keeps out summer heat too. This would also extend your living area, keep out flies and mozzies, and prevent you seeing that awful roof next door. You could also take the shadecloth off the windows leading on to that deck, which would be a bonus. I'm not a fan of shadecloth, and would always look for an alternative solution

Further to some previous comments I’ve made over the past few years on various subject matters ; anyone that would like some further detailed information on the subject on sun control window insulation films as an option to consider for improving both heat loss and heat gains through windows ( also referred too as window tinting and / or glass tinting ) , including glass security /glare control / fade protection and decorative glass treatments etc can check out some articles I had printed in the “ The Owner Builder “ magazine no’s 180 & 181 ( Dec-Feb 2013-2914 editions ) It may help those understand a little better the product for those having various issues, such as this present subject matter on cooling methods , in this comment section . As others have mentioned, one product may not solve all their particular problem/s and quite often more than one product / solution may often be required to obtain a better outcome . I’ve found a lot of problems start initially with overall buildings design , orientation and the amount of glass / windows used and their sizes /design and type / amount of insulation used overall . Having been in the window tinting industry for about 38 years now and covering both domestic and commercial buildings , I’ve noticed how the weather patterns changed to an extent that the solutions/ products that may have been available / used some 30 odd years ago ; now have new and updated products / solutions on offer . One can email me for further advice to clarify some issues . Although I’m a Tasmanian based business, I’ve lived and worked all around Australia and spent over 5-1/2 years in north Qld so do have some experience living in different climates .

There are some truly beautiful natives on the scene now. I love acacia cognata for it's lovely mounding habit and the fact it fits into nearly any style of garden. It looks lush and temperate but also flowers. Davidson plum is a native that takes up very little space but drops kilo's of fruit after a few years. If you like tart jam like rosella, and cranberry then davidson plum makes a beautiful tart jam and also a lovely steak sauce. It's very simple to grow and a distinctive looking tree. Also makes an excellent cordial. Dianella is a native strap plant that clumps and looks stunning in the variegated leaf. It's cheap and easy to find and in mass plantings looks the business. and while a coffee tree is not a native few other trees are as easy to grow and beautiful as this one. It grows to below 3 meters in a lovely dense bush shape. The leaves are deep green and glossy and it flowers with hundreds of delicate white blooms that smell like jasmine. It does not need pruning and looks good for absolutely years. If you want a lush look to your garden you can't go past a $7 K12 coffee tree that will fill a gap and look amazing. We put ours in as seedlings about 7 years ago and they are mature now. Both are beautiful shaped trees that have never been pruned and need zero maintenance or watering. They are fabulous ornamental trees that produce about 5kgs per tree of coffee beans a year. A truly worthy screening plant when you want a lush backdrop and maximum privacy. And for a waterfall effect over terraces like no other you can't go past dichondra silver falls. It's native.