Before we comment we need to know where you are located and what planting zone you are in. My thought until I hear more would be to plant a garden of native plants. Where I am (near Chicago) that would be purple coneflower, monarda, or maybe Joe Pye Weed.

@Yvonne Martin Great point! We're in planting zone 5b in upstate NY!

Remember that you will be plowing snow along your driveway, throwing snow against what is planted there. Some plants won’t survive that. I agree to planting hardy perennials, native to your area along the fence. Creating a bed from the driveway to the fence, no grass to mow! Actually, the fence looks nice and colorful shrubs (lilacs, forsythia, etc.) and flowers (including peonies) will look great against it when they are in bloom.

I like the fence too. It looks good and good fences make good neighbors. Maybe it’s still too new for you? You might eventually like it.

Flowering shrubs or perennials would look nice, too, but foliage against the fence (is it vinyl?) might exacerbate mold and mildew growing on it. And you might not like looking at that all winter long.

@littlebug zone 5 Missouri We do like the fence! It's just a little less green than the other areas of our yard so we're looking for ways to soften the white :)

My first thought is that is a very narrow strip and with a car parked on the driveway as shown, any plantings will interfere with easy in and out access to that side of the car. Just opening the car door on that side looks like it would wipe out, smash into or knock over anything planted there, as well as forcing anyone exiting from the side to step into the planting area.

Not a great idea in my opinion.

Just want to say definitely no bamboo as it is invasive and difficult to control. If you were to plant a row of Arborvitae IMO it would barely look better than the fence. Hostas are only out for a couple months, but since during winter months that is probably piled with snow, maybe hostas and some annuals or bulbs would be a good idea. I would start by removing all the grass, putting a border around the area and mulching it so at least there isn't any grass there to worry about. I had a border between my house and the driveway in a previous house that was about 40' long and 3-4' deep. I planted evergreen bushes that didn't need to be pruned, but spread sideways over time to cover the whole area. I had two levels, bushes and low lying juniper in front, along with bulbs that bloomed throughout the spring and summer. It was durable and green all year around. My winter climate isn't as cold as yours, but not far off. It did have snow piled on it from time to time during the winter. Consult a real nursery (instead of a big box store) for appropriate plantings.

Agree that its not wide enough and will interfere with car ingress/egress. I would put in a few posts, string some horizontal wires, and plant bunches of clematis.

Although I wouldn't recommend it for this planting area for the reasons I outlined previously, not all bamboo is invasive. Clumping bamboos, which also tend to be very cold tolerant, are not the slightest bit invasive and no more difficult to control than any other plant. They behave just like a tall growing ornamental grass - exactly what they are - with a slowly expanding base.

Maybe find a little more balance by adding some white features on the green side?..white trellis cones with flowering plants?…or perennial greenery?

A couple white chairs by the fire pit?

Maybe instead planting along the fence add shrubs, trees and/or perennials on the other (green) side of the driveway. It would soften the overall look and you'd have more space for plants. Just a thought.

How wide is the strip of grass along the fence? Agree that maintenance and access would be easiest if you keep that area as grass and do your screening plantings on the side of the driveway opposite the fence. You can make wider beds there which allows you to put in taller/wider trees and shrubs

Really not enough room for screening shrubs, and as others have pointed out, what will you do with the snow?

@ginatay124@ShadyWillowFarm@laceyvail 6A, WV I think we're leaning toward hostas along the fence (shouldn't be a problem with the snow but will soften the bottom of the fence itself) and then some flowering plants and a tree near the patio (great idea).

Do you think the plantings on the near side of the driveway should go all the way to the garage or just around the patio?

My first thought was jazz up the patio first , remember anything you plant there will grow and require watering and up keep maybe just leave it for a bit and add that interest to that very bland patio. Maybe some dwarf cedars but will need pruning often

Alex, a lot of my response depends on the sun exposure of the patio. For shade on anything, patio, deck, house the most important spot is to the west/southwest where the hottest sun of the summer is. The next most important is to the east/southeast where the morning sun hits--less hot but if you can keep it shady until 11 or so, that's a bonus for a house. For a house, you'd want large shade trees at some distance and closer in small trees--small being 20-35 ft. And just with the pictures you show, we don't know what's on the side of the patio where you stood to take the pictures. I'd certainly want several small trees-- for interest, beauty and the feeling of enclosure. Just to add, while shade cloth is a quick solution, nothing cools things down like leafy shade.

As far as whether a border should go all the way to the driveway--it certainly could especially if you like to garden and want to see a wide range of plants/shrubs, possibly small trees as well that will give interest spring, summer and fall (fall color and berries)--and winter as well with perhaps some evergreens--broadleaf or conifers. But also keep in mind where you might want a break in that border if people often want to cut across the lawn to get to the house/yard/patio rather than walking down the driveway to the walkway.

And how sunny is that strip along the fence? Many hostas won't want a lot of sun.

@laceyvail 6A, WV Thank you so much for the detailed thoughts! A lot to think about.

The fence is on the north side of our lawn. The garage is on the northeast corner of the lawn (for context). Where the peonies currently are get afternoon shade because of the house. However, along the fence in the backyard gets mostly sun.

Where I stood to take the photo looking onto the backyard is the stoop on the back of the house.

Also, remember that where you plant, you will also have to weed.

Regarding how far your planting beds extend toward garage, I think it depends on your budget and time for maintaining. Prioritizing screening and shade around your patio area would do a lot.