Advice needed for a new border

This is an area of garden which was previously just lawn. There is 1 width of slabs which follows the bottom of the hedge. I don't mind this as it keep the weeds down. Should it stay?

We started by cutting out approx 1 metre of turf- I know the border needs to be wider but I haven't decided by how much- though husband doesn't want to lose lawn (!).
It's pretty much south west facing, hence the location of the greenhouse which I'm happy with. I have a cold frame which I think would be best alongside the greenhouse, then the border will begin and follow the hedge.



Kind of tails off here, should it curve round?

View showing tree and tree stump with rose, honeysuckle and Virginia creeper.


Questions are, how can I make this work (bearing in mind there is a tree then and another tree stump with a honeysuckle, rose and Virginia creeper on it which I think should stay).
Dealing with weeds is not too much trouble but how should it be edged properly and what should I add to improve the soil? There are also tree roots present...
The other query is this. We have removed the pampas grass and have been left with a mess of old concrete and roots. I would like to plant a tree here (treehouse on future) but need a path going along the front to the greenhouse, which we have already dug out for (next to raised bed). I'm thinking we should replace all the paving round here as its gappy, grassy and well, rubbish. Would love some advise.
View from greenhouse.

Crappy path type thing which leads to ex pampas grass.

Sorry for all the questions. Hoping someone can advise soon as we need to buy everything for Friday. We are hiring help (me pregnant and husband very busy) and I want to be best prepared to get the most out of them (2 guys, £240 for a day) and the best result for the garden.
P.s. All ready have a range of plants to go in...

 

Starting with the slabs.....if they aren't actually serving a purpose where they are they could be used to replace the path where the Pampas is and possibly around the greenhouse. Your husband doesn't want to lose any lawn so perhaps you could put some curves into the border without actually stealing to much lawn, at the same time extending it up to the side of the greenhouse keeping the same line. If you have a hosepipe or rope, you can lay that to mark out the edge of the border curves and perhaps have the curves slightly deeper where the base of the trees are. Where the border tails off just slightly curve it inwards.

Plants that are drought tolerant, perhaps rockery plants could be planted around the base of the trees where the roots are more cumulative. The soil itself would benefit from compost and/or manure dug in to bring it back to life. Over time new plants in the border will fill out and weeds shouldn't be a problem.

 

Thank you so much for the advice @Sheal, I really appreciate it. I think I will leave the slabs by the hedge as they allow access for cutting it and I didn't think I'd be able to plant anything that close anyway? I read 2ft would be the minimum to plant from privet but I'm hoping for a little less with the soil improved.
Shall I put in just compost/manure or grit too? Our soil is loam which drains well.
You are right about the curves. It's going to need it for anything to survive near the tree! It's roses, small shrubs (hebes, hydrangeas, a small magnolia and eucalyptus) and herbaceous perennials I've got to go in.
I'm not sure which kind of paving stones to go for for the path. I liked cobblestone ones but we don't have them anywhere else so though it might look a bit odd?
The lifted slabs making up the 'crappy path' bit will be fine for the cold frame base.
Thanks again for your reply, all advice greatly welcomed!

 

Just re read your post, side of the greenhouse is where the cold frame is going to have to go, don't have anywhere for it really. Hoping it won't look weird having a border up to it...

 

I wouldn't have thought you'd need the grit Charlie, if your soil was clay I'd say yes.

Don't plant the roses to near the trees, they are hungry, thirsty plants and the trees will take any nutrients and water from the soil.

How about stepping stones sunk into the lawn at intervals, you will be able to mow straight over them.

Excuse me for drawing on your picture. I was thinking you could take the border to the back edge of your greenhouse and depending on how big your cold frame is, to put it at the side.

 

Ahh stepping stones would have been perfect, but now we've dug out a trench for a path.
Wish I'd thought of that!

Maybe I could get them to fill in the trench when digging out for the cold frame, (the ground slopes up towards the hedge you see) and then reseed as required. Hmm.
The cold frame is 8ft long whereas my greenhouse is only 6, but I think it could still work, it'll just come further forward.

I don't mind your drawing one bit and I really like your suggestions too.
Shall I keep the lollipop tree thing?

Yes I was thinking space the roses away from the tree, and maybe plant the tougher stuff such as hardy geraniums etc near there. I have a pink one which seems to double in size every 10 minutes so I'll use that one I think.

I do have a couple of climbing roses with no home but guess I'll keep those potted until we've built our new garage and they can go on there instead.

I've a fair few shrub roses to go in; Munstead Wood, Reine des Violets, Rhapsody in blue, Burgundy Ice, Blue Eyes and then orangey ones Lady Marmalade and 2x Lady Emma Hamilton.
Maybe I'll group the purpley ones one end and then the orangey ones the other, or would a rhythm look better? (Obviously not purple/orange/purple )
They might not all fit tbh, though I've got 3 elsewhere planted in a group (as recommended by David Austen) and they're ok. Maybe @wiseowl can advise on this?

Thanks again for the help.

 

If you like it then there's no need to get rid of it, or you may get away with moving it elsewhere.

The Geraniums should do fairly well by the trees as long as they get some sun. They will start to flop if they are lacking water, so that's a good alarm for you.

I have nine shrub roses in their own bed and they are all different colours. If you had more than one of each kind I'd say plant them together, but when they are similar colours but different roses then they either look dull or clash. I'd mix the colours. Plant them 3ft apart to give them space to fill out.

This picture is of my roses in their first year, 2013. Strangely I haven't taken any pictures of the bed since, note to self for this year. It gives you an idea of what they look like mixed.

 

That's really beautiful! Would love to see an updated pic. What are the nearest and further varieties please?
I'll write a longer reply tomorrow, absolutely shattered now!
Thanks again for your help.

 

Thank you for the compliment. They are all Floribunda's, the hardier of the roses and need to be in my garden, it get's battered every winter.

The nearest one is 'Blue For You'. The lilac pink one at the far end is 'Lucky!' and out of them all is probably the best performer. It produces masses of flowers and as yet hasn't suffered any disease. To it's right is 'Ebb Tide' and currently under threat of being dug out. This year is it's last chance to perform properly, it's pathetic! The yellow rose to 'Lucky's' left is 'Lincolnshire Yellow Belly'.

 

Here's an update. The path is almost done bar the part my husband wasn't happy with and is redoing.
The border is widened, weeded and we've added well rotted manure and compost.
Tonight we put in a few roses, a magnolia, hydrangea and moved a spirea. I'm really happy with it so far- and as you can see I have started plotting out the rest. Still one area to clear and improve the soil, plus cold frame won't be going up for a while.
Sorry for the dark pics, will add more tomorrow.

 

Looks lovely well done .

 

Getting there...
Planted so far:
Pink spirea
White rhododendron
3 different hydrangeas
Roses (burgundy ice, rhapsody in blue, Reine des violettes, wedding day rambler)
2 violet hollyhocks
Philadelphus 'innocence'
Leucanthemum (a double flowering type)

A big hebe and 4 roses to go in and that's all the big stuff done.

 

Looks great CB ,

I cant wait to get to your stage, deciding what to put where , ive put a lot of thought into my hedge, but not my borders just putting anything in them atm, once I have everything how I want it I will be doing what your doing now. hopefully this time next year,

Keep up the good works its rewarding you now .

 

Thank you @martin-f for your kind comments.
I was the same when we moved in, it really works well whilst you're getting to know when everything flowers and what conditions they prefer.
It's always nice to see these things one year on, like my raised bed I planted April 2015. It all quickly fills out!
So this time I've left things a tiny bit more room. Well, I've tried to, .
One thing I must do is water the shrubs and roses properly this summer, I didn't do that last year and a few roses have struggled to establish. Hopefully they'll improve in time.

 

Aw wow, it's looking great! Hope your resting your feet in between potting plants! You got loads!