Buy a can of landscaping spray paint and spray a wide arc from the far edge of your patio back to the driveway. With the rigid lines of your house and drive the swoop of a rounded garden will act as a nice contrast. Dig out the turf and lay down top notch landscape fabric (not the big box store stuff that doesn’t last) using either wood chip or rock as your base. Arranged your chosen shrubs and trees (still in their pots and the right ones for your zone - which you haven’t mentioned) and plan out the best spots to dig them in (fall is best).

Tried to find an inspo shot but this was as close as I could find. The Japanese Maple would go in place of the birch they planted in the example.

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Tried to merge these images together...here’s a very rough representation, although I think the maple should be a bit closer to centre of the planting and not as close to the house.

If you want your plants to grow happily and healthily, skip any sort of landscape fabric in planting beds. It can impede water penetration and oxygen exchange and will interfere with any sort of fertilization. And it doesn't even control weeds very effectively!!

I don't know of any pros that recommend the stuff for that usage.....hardscaping only.

thank you for the inspiration and ideas.... nuthinontv, I did mention that we are in zone 5B. thanks again!

Oops. Perhaps read thru this article discussing care of these maples in zone 5 conditions.

http://www.japanesemaplesonline.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.showpage/pageID/4/index.htm