Much of what you do depends on what you want--dog run? area for kids to play? outdoor entertaining area? pool? vegetable garden? etc.

^Yes, you need to define your needs & desires. To me it looks quite barren so I'm not sure why you wish to remove the garden bed rather than fill it. You're looking at a long expanse of bare fencing.

Landscaping is a valuable investment that can become more costly without a plan all agree on. I recommend Hiring a landscape designer that can give you immediate impact, or a longer term improvement plan that will save money and work over time. Designers often get professional discounts dor some enhancements.

if you want to talk about plants and possibilities.. you have to tell us where you are.. big city name...

ken

Thanks for the info so far. Location: Indianapolis - the garden bed was installed poorly, so I want to remove it and possibly replace it. We are looking for low maintenance entertaining and space for the dog to play.

Here are a few ideas:

Plant selection is the very last step in developing a new landscape so no need to worry about that at this stage. Plants are like the icing on the cake - if the cake is not mixed and baked correctly, then any icing is inconsequential to the finished product.

What is important at this stage is identifying how you want to use your backyard and developing a layout that addresses those wants and needs and blends them together in a smooth, natural flow. If you do not have the experience or the 'vision' to do this yourself, then hiring a landscape design professional to assist you makes excellent sense and will save you a lot of time and effort and money in the long run.

Remote landscape design by committee is not going to produce successful results.

A lawn is classic. I thought you might like this minimal low maintenance look for inspiration.

Contemporary Townhouse - Heights, Houston · More Info

Here is my concept with a rectangular lawn surrounded by flowers and plants:

Cape Elizabeth from bare ground up · More Info

Love your mix of shaded and open areas! One option would be to leave the yard quite natural/woodsy feeling, with the path from the fence gate entering the yard through a woodland garden of cinnamon ferns, hostas, geranium maculatum/macrorrhizum, plus a few shade-tolerant shrubs (all low-maintenance). I painted deck railings white, lattice and stair risers dark blue like the house, changed all railings to the same style (what looks like a cable railing on the left?)

For entertaining, I assume grilling/dining takes place on the deck, followed by conversation around the fire on the lawn below? A quick search says Indianapolis requires fire pits to be 15' from structures or trees, so that's why the middle-of-the-lawn location? (If you can maintain the 15' distance, Dig Doug's foot-of-the-stairs location for a patio makes sense.) Not knowing dimensions, I left the fire pit where it is and paved a small circle around it, just enough for a firm, dry walkway, with chairs on the grass around the circle (tipped inward as you have them for lawn mowing).

What about making the raised bed a doggie play area, with sand for digging and a kiddie pool for splashing? In the other back corner, I landscaped around the tree (never like to mow around trees) but made a secret path behind the landscaping for "boundary patrol", as dogs often like to do. There's still open lawn for games of fetch. Enough dog entertainment?

Some ideas to consider, anyway . . .