Plant multiple versions of the same thing.
Don't plant things too close to the boundaries-I made this mistake repeatedly.
Perennials are much easier to take care of and look better earlier in the year too.
Use lots of mulch (I love Strulch but that Promulch looks worth a try too.
Build a pond and enjoy the slug control frogs provide.
Observe the garden/land for a year before you start planting to see how it changes through the year, how the weather and seasons affect it and what is already there just not come up yet.
It's ok to take things out, don't stay stuck with something that irritates you just because it's been growing there for ages. I'm looking at a ragged crabapple tree while I write this that I planted 9 years ago and it has only flowered once. Must get brave enough to take it out and put something else in.
The time will pass whether you plant it or not so don't let the fact it won't flower for 2 years or fruit for 3 years put you off. There's so many things I want to go back 3, 5, 10 years and plant that I didn't at the time because it seemed too long to wait.
Stop if you're not enjoying an aspect of gardening and reduce down or try a different method or plant group. I realised 5 years I that despite it being a lifelong dream I'm not enjoying growing annual veg on my allotment and we rarely eat the results. My family couldn't hate broad beans and kale more, no they don't care that it's organic. I'm gradually filling it with a lot of fruit instead and enjoying it much more.