Beginner Gardening: Advice Needed - Filling in the Spaces, 2 by SoCal_Tony

SoCal_Tony wrote:
Hi, I'm new here and not the most knowledgeable when it comes to planning the most appropriate plants for my yard. We've bought plants only to have them die because of multiple problems we have to contend with. Even in pots we haven't had the greatest luck. What tropicals grow in 9B full sun? Stay green year round? Provide lots of color? Etc... We need some serious help.

The first area we need help with is near our pool that we had restored a couple years ago, it gets full sun year round. We also had a retaining wall pushed back to give us more room for lounges and what-not. This also eliminated some growing space, so we have to make due with the space we have. We also have quite a few trees that are established that we'd like to keep and a couple that we don't mind getting rid of if need be. This is a love-hate matter with me, since I like the dwarf orange, the plum and the apple trees as they produce well, yet don't quite mix in with the tropical look we're now trying to establish. All-in-all it looks like a real like a real mixed mess. During the summer we have 3 umbrellas that slide into holes in the deck. Sorry I can't find a pick of that, but will keep looking.

Our soil situation is a disaster and has been since we moved in. Unless replaced as you go, so-to-speak, it's horrible to plant in. This is simply course sandy loam. I cannot afford to have it all taken out, unfortunately.

In the images below I've labeled the three levels that make up the growing space in our upper-yard.

These levels are:
Level 1 - the lowest level just behind the retaining wall. This area consists of a drip system that waters red Mandevilla's (Sun Parasol) planted a year ago. There's also a few bulbs planted there that we can't recall the names of, "Bearded..."? The soil in this level is the sandy loam except where the plants are. The plant spots are a mix between a bagged Miracle Grow garden blend and the sandy loam Below that is, again, the sandy loam. I need to keep this area's soil low or when it rains it bleeds over the wall and stains the stucco wall. There also a green chicken wire fence here to allow the Mandevilla's to crawl on. My idea was, once the Mandevilla's hare established they can fall over the wall here and there adding a bit of color which we badly need.

Level 2 sits about 4-5" higher than level 1 and is separated from that level with cedar fencing staked in horizontally and has the drip running along it. It's about 6" deep of a bagged Miracle Grow garden blend throughout. Below that is the sandy loam again. This area has a mix of tropical looking plants, yet we'd like to plant some colored bulbs in between for more color. There's about two feet of space between each plant here. Enough room for the right bulb? If some plants aren't right for this area I don't mind moving them as long as we can save them for somewhere else. If it would work here I was considering a Hawaiian Tropical Bamboo Orchid. Thoughts?

Level 3 is the upper most level and consists of just the course sandy loam and has a slight slope. It's border to level 2 are railroad ties that were there when we moved in 13 years ago. This level is a miss mash of trees, Cherry, olive, Birds, King Palms and fruit. We planted Mandevilla's to the back of this area as we thought they'd cling to the lattices and cover the ugly wall, but they haven't taken in the three years since we planted them in a bagged garden soil. The only thing that's grown in this soil and made it look better is typical ground cover, yet we never bought enough to cover the entire area. The other downside about ground cover is walking on it to get access to the fruit and bird feeders. Is there a ground cover that will look very tropical and not look dead in off seasons?

All three levels are watered by a drip system twice a day up to 15 minutes depending on the time a year. Three times a year I give this area Mirracle Grow powder through the drip system.

There are other areas in this "upper-yard" with other plants. I'm okay with those and would rather tackle the above first. I mainly looking to add color with new plants and improve the growth of what I have now. I like bulbs because once you plant they come back each year and, hopefully, multiply. If tropical bulbs can help us I'd like to get on it now since it is planting season if not mistaken. I'd like to accent the red Mandevilla's with a different color bulb. We'd like to continue a tropical look all around and if it made a significant difference, I'd be willing to part with the cherry and olive to be replaced with something more appropriate.

We don't vacation very often and like the back yard to be our get-away.

What could the fine folks at DG recommend from what you've read and see in the images below?

Sorry about the length,
Tony