nice space to create a usable outdoor space.

if you have no limitations on planting (Root traveling issues) I would start planting a few trees

Building restrictions? are you already at street setback? How about a structure with a pergola roof, wisteria or other vine... the sky's the limit.

Trees out by the street possibly underplanted with shrubs, then the landscaping opens up as you pull up to the house.

Never heard of it referred to as the governor's driveway - must be a local custom. I like it. :-) Sounds so elegant. You definitely need some landscaping out front. Unless shade is undesirable, plant a tree that will look good in the future. I live in a development that was built almost 30 years ago and we have some lovely large trees now.

If you have a local nursery get a plan from a designer that you can do in stages if the cost is prohibitive to do it all right away. Right now you have a marching line up of bushes in the front of your house which is very formal looking and not as interesting as different levels (layers) of plantings and multiple colors. But just as with interiors, not everyone's taste is the same, so do something you like which is appropriate for your climate.

We have a circular driveway with a side driveway going to the back, and I’m another one who’s not familiar with ”governor’s driveway.” We’re in an area with a lot of trees (mostly old oaks) so it’s nice. However, ours was pretty much done when we bought the house. We have had some landscaping done by a local nursery, so kandrewspa’s suggestion is a good one. I just have these pix that show a little. The oak limb shown in the upper left corner of the first pic is from a tree that fell crushing everything in its path.🥴 The second pic shows the area (around the lamp post) we had redone after the tree came down. The pittosporum along the front walkway were destroyed and replaced with boxwood. Everything’s filled in quite a bit now. Trees in front along the street are crape myrtles.

Liking the idea of naturalizing the lawn out front with trees. Thinking about possibility of adding a few additional Japanese maples randomly placed to break up the formality.

Here are a few suggestions:

I think some landscaping is a good idea.

But, would think about what certain types of trees will eventually do to the surrounding lawn and if you are ok with that.

This is not any- tree, but just that some types of root systems will not allow grass to grow near trunk, and also tree canopies shade out lawn. Depends somewhat on the orientation to sun pattern. So if you’re imagining a lush lawn from house to street, dotted with some stately trees, that’s not realistic. Plus there will be more maintenance than lawn mowing.

The tree experts may have more advice, and you should also drive around your neighborhood & nearby ones to see what landscaped lawns/ trees/ shrubs look like in your area.

@chloebud that is beautiful. Love the brick across the concrete

Please consider planting trees, shrubs, perennials that are native to your location! Every state has a native plant society and they are most happy to give you good advice. You will be rewarded with beauty, the knowledge that you are doing something good for the planet and future generations, and providing safe habitats for disappearing insects.

@jck910, thanks! The previous owners did a nice job.

@Dig Doug's Designs, as usual, so nice!

I may be to blame for OP postng same thing over in Trees along with because I suggested might need to understand more specific tree behaviors.

N K, I meant for YOU to think more about what outcomes you hope for or concerns you have regarding lawn health , shade, leaf litter, tree root zones. To do some homework on the “ looks” you like as seen IRL in your area, not paste- over pics.

So that if you did have any wants/ needs regarding appearance and maintenance, you could include that for the forum.

These are things you would be able to discuss in a consultation with a local landscaper because you would have a real- time discussion and Q &A.

“Thinking about possibility of adding a few additional Japanese maples…”

My favorite trees, for sure. Ours are all in the backyard under some oak trees. They do better in shade here in Southern CA.

Some thoughts

Check out the new article on native trees on link below. Your yard is a blank palette begging for some wonderful specimen trees and planting beds!

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-native-trees-landscape-designers-love-stsetivw-vs~158738555

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m in zone 5b in the Midwest.

I’ll be exploring working on developing this in stages but definitely saw some nice Crimson Sentry maples and Minuet Mountain Laurels I liked today at a local nursery.

N K, I was thinking something in front of or filling in the wall on the far left might be nice. This shows a listing photo from a couple years ago of a house not far from us. The wall on the right has a bougainvillea growing on it. It’s not in bloom here but is bright red and really showy when it is. You could also use a trellis for the wall. Anyway, just a thought for something suitable for your 5B zone.

ETA - Photo disappeared…?

Another quick question - when selecting specimen trees, is it better to pair or acceptable to use different varieties? For instance I already have a Bloodgood and a Tamukeyama Japanese maple. I feel these are similar because they’re red leaf despite being different Japanese maple varieties. I’m wanting to add 2 more right now. I like Sango Kaku and Paperbark Maple. Is it best to add 2 of the same or a paperbark & sango w/ the 2 red leaf Japanese maples? Should I follow thru with some symmetry into naturalizing this space? If that makes sense?

IMO, there are serious scale issues here. Japanese maples aren't going to help that. You need real trees, like American maples. Those should be sited before anything else gets planted.

Those trees are too big with too invasive of roots for the area. I have drainage lines, water supply lines, electrical thru the area. Not to mention concrete surrounding which I don’t want heaved or cracked.

Not to mention I don’t want the area completely shaded out.

Since you are in the Midwest... what are your current snow removal places? Depending on how you clear your drive you might want to consider that for the winter duration of your plantings.

Snow usually is blown to the edge of this interior lawn.

Then make sure you take that into consideration for what you plant in the edge of the interior lawn. You might not want bushes or trees that might block the snow throw or dislike having snow thrown on them. Other plantings would be just fine with it.

Folks are already providing great ideas for what to plant. It's a nice space to plant up. But sometimes when the spring plans are nigh it's easy to forget where the snow piles will go soon enough.

N K, Sango-kaku (coral bark) is one of my favorites.

Myadvice is to look at trees that are evergreen in your area unless of course you love rking for weeks in the fall. IMO Japanese maples are awesome as specimen trees and are the only tree I would do that loses its leaves then do nice underpantings for the evergreen with bulbs and maybe a few beds of perennials depending on how much work you want to do. I agree the snow removal can be a big issue too .

First visit your local well-resopected local nursery for their suggestions. Important to get professional advice. You are familiar with the microclimates that exist now, but adding just one tree or bush may alter that.

I suggest a consultation with a landscape designer for tree selection and placement as well as for shape/size/placement of garden beds. Start by looking through garden and landscape photos right here in Houzz to help the landscaper see what style you’re drawn to. Drive around your neighborhood and photograph things that catch your eye,too.

You’re kind of veering into random plop-and- plant territory. I get it because I’m a bit of a plant collector and also impatient.

More of a plan is needed, using drawings & actual measurements of your yard, house, driveway regarding what should remain lawn, how far away, spacing. Plus need to look from inside your home and see what you would like the “ view” to be , how far out to plant , whether you want to maximize views from a window or from street, or something with tall things in middle & taper down on both sides. I expect it’s probably best to leave borders of driveway as lawn so don’t have dirt & mulch washing over. The majority of driveway has to be edged ( as in mowing/ edging) anyway.

I love Japanese maples & have had several types, including Sango Kaku, which is a fave due to its beautiful golden fall color. Mine got over 20” tall so they are more like small but not diminutive trees , and also paperbark, and even Bloodgood can get that tall & have different shape than Tamukeyama. It would take a lot of space for all 4 of those and would look better for any multiples of Japanese maples to be part of some kind of grouping connected with some lower shrubs & plants. But that could be too much to maintain in front yard.

It’d be great if it were possible just to tell you, “ Plant 2 of these and 3 of that “. But not many here can do that as an definitive recommendation because need to be on site, unless you’re using an online designer who works from your drawings & measurements & sun patterns.

There is a home in my neighborhood that has a circular drive and it always looks so nice. Google is stretching the pictures a bit so it looks like the front yard is miles deep - it isn't, but hopefully it is good enough to give you an idea of what it looks like.

It is usually greener than this, but the google cameras picked a hot, dry month.

In addition to any shrubs or herbaceous plants, what about a tree in the middle of that lawn? Either a fruit or nut tree (food is always good), or, say a dogwood? (yes that would require dealing w/leaves, but maybe you have regular wind, and the leaves would just blow away.)