Be aware that artificial turf can get very hot underfoot. You could lay a narrow old brick or limestone paver path to clothes line for easy access and plant ground covers or low profile herbs (eg.oregano and thyme) to use in cooking. Hardy herbs or flowers such as rosemary, lavender, geraniums against the edges of the space toward the back. Even add some large long troughs of flowers on the retaining wall to pretty up the area. It looks like it could get quite warm there but maybe a jasmine or similar climber to climb up a frame attached to the part of the large wall where there is no clothes line. Good luck, it will be a lovely space I'm sure once you get started.

Where is north in this photo? It looks to me as though the area in question is fairly shaded so a lot of the above options wont work if the area is on the southern side of the home, especially because of the winter shade. The space gets afternoon sun - in summer or winter? There are shadows from trees - are these deciduous or evergreen? Clay can vary enormously from being plasticine like to clay with rocks or stones in it. This will have an enormous bearing on the plants that you can use, precluding plants like westringias that require very good drainage. A plant that is as tough as old boots that will grow in both sun and shade [with some sunlight during the day] is Buxus microphylla var japonica varieties, while Aucuba japonica [Gold dust plant] or even some of the native lomandra grasses would work well. The first two can be grown as a hedge with the latter choosing a variety that you like [ there are so many], but have the plants all the same - don't mix them up. These will all grow in some shade, will grow in clay as well if it isn't too poorly drained. It does appear as though the area is sloping ever so slightly away from the house which is good. But I would steer clear of paving - unless its needed for access etc, it will look patchy and pointless - use plants instead to make your picture - its far more sustainable. Alison

Also you may need to rejuvenate your soil, add mulch , a watering system so your plants will survive, we have viburnums in a very exposed condition , they cop cold , heat , storms and they cope well as long as they have water, mulch , good soil and the occasional feed in spring, grasses would cope well also plants with a silver/grey foliage handle dry conditions well.

Crotons are dramatic and easy care. They are also quite inexpensive to buy. They do well in either full sun or part shade and tend to be most showy in part shade. You really need to live subtropics though to get the best out of them. If you live temperate then some garden classics will do well in that spot. The classic lavender and geranium. Both showy perrennials that are easy care and thrive on neglect. They do require an annual prune them to keep them from going leggy. NOt your thing? How about this recent favourite. The fiddle leaved fig. They can grow enormously tall in the ground. But in pots they are easy to maintain a particular size. They are often used as house plants in smaller sizes. They do offer a dramatic large glossy leaf.