Use a critical eye and minimize the number of elements in this area. There too much stuff going on The lattice should be removed and the fence tended to so you have a good backdrop to begin with.

I'd stain the fence a charcoal gray and then select plants and shrubs for in front of the fence. The charcoal gray will work well with your pavers.

thank you!

Find out if your local garden center has free design help if you buy the plants from them. I needed ideas when I bought my current house because my front yards are larger than I ever had before.

I don't know what plants grow in NY but here is my concept. Adding a stone water bowl or fountain as a focal point to draw the eye away from the hot tub and down from the white house.. An espalier as well.

Even the smallest lawn is inviting to the eye and bare feet.

I had to fit everything into the frame so arrange accordingly. You can see the dark gray fence as suggested works nicely.

These floating solar fountains don't require installation. Floating tea lights would be nice at night.

Joe Pye Weed and NY Ironweed are both tall and should provide fence coverage. In front of them, put some culver's root and liatris. In front of that, coneflowers. At the edge, put tiarella, heuchera or creeping phlox. All of this is probably native to NY, if not, then to the Eastern US.

Probably heuchera in the back, possibly tiarella or heucherlla.

GROW · More Info

Liatris

Transitional Landscape - Mequon, WI · More Info

Veronicastrum (Culver's root) on left

Westport River Meadow · More Info

Joe Pye Weed

LaurelRock Company: Back Country Manor · More Info

Coneflowers and Boneset (Joe Pye relative)

Contemporary Landscape · More Info

NY Ironweed.

Plant Ideas & Colorful Combinations · More Info