What's the easy way for beautiful landscaping on a new home?

I don’t have much of a green thumb. My contractor will add mulch and a few basic green bushes. How can I beautify the landscaping. The home will be complete in 4-8 weeks, but I can plant before then. I love perenials, but what else? I can do potted plants, but the in the ground things always seem to die.

Ideas?