As a rule, five or seven plants set in a grouping to form an irregular shape creates the desired effect.
Don't forget wildlife when creating a landscape plan. They need both living and dead trees for survival.
Get your landscape design on paper. It is easier to erase it from a plan than to move it with a shovel.
An important principle of garden design to remember is to have your plants in groups large enough to form masses of color or texture.
A large delphinium or peony may be of sufficient size to be attractive alone, but a random collection of individual, small to medium sized plants will yield a disorganized appearance.
A well-designed berm or man-made hill is a landscape asset. Even a low berm adds considerable interest on flat property.