Exposed concrete entrance platform manufacturing

This is how it looks paved and with a granite edge at our place, the path is a random pattern, with stones that are 10% lighter to avoid looking too long and monotonous

so, I will line it with coated chipboard. Then it will actually be about a good ton of concrete. I am now going down 30cm all around the outside. Any tips on how to best achieve hand smoothing? Can you actually vibrate too much? So that there is too much slag on top, which can later flake off?

Is it sensible to buy a trowel for floor installers or is a small regular 30cm trowel also enough for the area? What would you roughly estimate, when can you start smoothing in the current weather at about 12 degrees? Pour concrete Saturday around 8-9am, smooth/scratch approximately 5-6 hours later around 3pm? Is it then sensible to add powdered cement when smoothing?

So,

just spoke with a landscape gardener, he says...
He has always gotten good results with freshly screeded concrete.

Pour the last layer properly wet and smooth it nicely even using a screed board and a vibrator.
That's enough, no later after-treatment has been done so far.

Now I wonder what is better.
As I said, I don't need a mirror-smooth surface. It should just be even and without concrete craters and protruding sharp points.

If I want to smooth it later after the curing process, I shouldn't pour too wet.

What do I do now?

Do as the landscaper says, then it will be fine

do it like the landscaper says, then it will be alright

Are you saying that from experience, from personal experience? Could you maybe find me a picture or do you have a picture of how it could ideally look if I just do it incorrectly? Thanks in advance