A local garden store or designer will certainly be able to help you. In the meantime, you can look up ideas online, but you'll need to know some basic information before anyone can help you choose specific plants. The first and most important is to know your planting zone, which is all about your location and climate. You also need to know the directional orientation of your house and the wall, and whether it is "full sun", "partial sun", or "shade". Will you be planting on both sides of the wall? You may wind up with vastly different plants if one side gets full sun and the other is in the shade. Take into consideration whatever shade is cast by the large tree, and the house itself. If you have the time, spend a day taking pictures of both sides of the wall - maybe once an hour (shadows will shift somewhat throughout the season), so you may want to do this every few weeks and keep a visual log of how the shadows move. Also, before you plant, decide if you want to paint the wall. It will be easier to paint before you plant, of course. White will reflect heat back onto plants. Climbing plants would look nice on the wall, if you're not going with a very structured garden. Ivy is an obvious choice, but there are other vines that flower beautifully, if you like that idea.

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone and sorry I didn't explain the polycarbonate a bit better :) This is along the lines of what we'll be using... http://www.psp.co.nz/building-brands/corrugated-sheeting/suntuf-polycarbonate The area is an absolute sun trap and we're hoping to use it as an extension to our living space, especially on rainy days! I've just sent my husband out to get a few pots of different stains for is to try - darkest brown (cedar) and a lighter brown (rustic oak) both by Cabots + the black we already have. Hopefully we can decide between one of those! I probably should have mentioned we will have black aluminium pool fencing running along the top of the second retaining wall - so the real question is do we keep everything black (pool fencing, horizontal fence, retaining walls and pergola) or do we go with a dark (or even light) brown for the pergola and retaining walls.... We just keep going around in circles at the moment. Decisions, decisions! Thanks again :)

Sorry I am so late coming to your site - you are an inspiration to all, homeowners and advisers alike. For your planting advice, I suggest you call Merrifield Garden Center to see if they will come out your way. They currently have wonderful garden centers in Merrifield and Fairfax (both in Fairfax County) and a new one in Gainesville, but they may come further south to wherever you reside. (www.MerrifieldGardenCenter.com) Even if they don't send designers to your area, they are worth a trip to see their huge selection for a day of pleasure and inspiration, or to pick up some plants. Most of my clients are in the Fairfax and greater Washington area, but I am currently living out west below Front Royal, VA on the Shenandoah mountainside - wonderful views. cascio.offsite@gmail.com

I haqve just seen this , and it is well over a year old , so presumably you are well into renovations , or maybe finished . Here's my take though -- probably too late though ! Your picture looks like those 70's photo's that faded and yellowed ( sorry to be rude ) . So freshen and modernise . Paint the walls white -- not beige or yellow . It will look so much 'cleaner' . redo the dark uprights and base boards -- I can't tell if they are dark green , or black , but I'd do black stain over it . The fence I would also do in black . The yard , step one , would be hide and soften it . The Cape Cod chair paint in white , with the pailings in bright primary colours -- each one different . Add 2 or 3 planters -- different shapes and sizes and heights , but all stained a nice Kwila brown or charcoal or similar . Big leafy plants , cactuses , yukkas , maybe white and light brown pebbles , marigolds , colour , texture , different height plants . Personally , I would go further -- paint the roof , rip up most of the pavers , possibly even change the windows to bronze or charcoal frames . Just some quick ideas from an experienced amateur haha .