Here is the 2nd pic showing the larger area...you can see the asparagus ferns and the size of the bushes I'm asking about.
Thank You!

Wheeler's dwarf Pittosporum would be a perfect fit in that location. Unfortunately it looks like they used standard ones instead.

Is that A-fern under the palm tree also?

Purpleinopp-gulp. Yes A-ferns there too. In Florida they are considered weeds :-( Maybe replace both areas with more spaced out spikey plants, say a contrasting green color-I've seen some that are a pretty light green and white contrast on the leaves. (Again, don't know the name!) Maybe these as a replcement?
As you can see from the 2nd picture, the Pittosporum (Thanks for the info Saltcedar!) and A-ferns are next to each other and all under a short palm that looks pretty unhealthy--tips are brown. Also need to figure out what to do with that. Don't want to spend a ton and want to do as much as I can myself, but I'm new at this! (Any tips on how to save the short palm in the pic are appreciated too!) There is one on the other side of the walkway that is the same type but looks much fuller and healthier. May just need to be replaced-- like to know if there is any way to make it sprout some further down the trunk to match the other palm would be appreciated :)

Umm...one more? Does anyone know what this is? It looks overdue for a trim but I'm not sure when it needs to be done...
Thanks!

I'm afraid to ask, but is there landscape fabric under the mulch in this whole landscape?

Blue flowers are Plumbago.

No landscape fabric. Do you know when I need to cut back the plumbago?
Thanks for all of the help!

No landscape fabric...

I don't know Plumbago that well, somebody will, if you don't find the info in a discussion in perennial forum already. That's where I would look.

Palms, also not something I can advise about, but did see the question. Probably not enough of it visible in that pic for anybody to say much. Nor am I familiar with the shrubs, or their possible eventual height/girth.

So glad there's no landscape fabric!!

Going back to your post in southern gardening with further comments about the a-fern and general area thing.

The Plumbago is Plumbago auriculata. It's a rambling shrub rather than a perennial.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cape Leadwort

Pruning is PRN on plumbago. Here in Central Texas it's a herbaceous perennial so we cut it to the ground in Spring, in most of Florida pruning is to control size.

This post was edited by saltcedar on Wed, Oct 2, 13 at 17:43

Trachycarpus will develop a full head over time. Unless it has salt damage or other physiologic problems it should recover. They are very slow growing.

you have your IDs ... and some very helpful base knowledge ...

now would be the time to find the LANDSCAPE .. perennial ... annual and shrub forums ...

ken