I actually “finished” last summer, so now it’s just maintenance and small improvements/additions. Even the kids in the neighbourhood have commented how much better it looks now. :)
We actually had a landscape architect draw up a plan for our rear and front yards, which helped immensely, seeing as how neither my wife nor I know anything about plants. We had people come in to plant the trees, but my wife and I took the plan and did everything else. Definitely more expensive this way, but now we have plants that not only work on their own, but work together. If you don’t know anything about plants, I suggest finding someone who does to make up a plan.
