Hi,
Make sure you decide if you want to put plants IN the ground, before you spray. A total vegetation killer can last as long as a full year, which would kill the chances for most plants to be healthy (or even live) Then there are the roundup type herbicides that you can spray and plant in the area right away. Plants add beauty and screen plumbing, but you have to spray every other week or so to keep the grass away like the previous member said.
The types of plant material you could use in this application depends on the area you live and of course, personal preference and lifestyle. Some beautiful plants require lots of maintenance. There are some plants that have roots you can contain, but most uncontained plants , by nature, seek out water.
Have you considered using rock like the member suggested? Then you can use the area for groups of pots. You can show off a selection of neat pots, use different color groupings for different holidays, etc...I would use marble chips if I was considering white rock. Marbe chips will not turn to that dirty rusty,gray color. It stays white, but costs more.
Hope this helps a little,
ODUlady