Hi @inna,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
The soil doesn't look too bad, but there are definitely some easy steps you can take now to improve it and set your hedging plants up for long-term success.
I'd suggest grabbing a few bags of compost or manure and mixing it into the soil with a garden fork, ensuring it is well incorporated.
Adding compost or manure to your soil before planting your hedge will greatly improve the growing conditions by enriching the soil with essential nutrients, boosting microbial activity and increasing organic matter that helps create a looser, more workable structure. This leads to better root development, improved water retention without causing waterlogging and enhanced drainage in heavier soils.
Once you've planted your hedging plants, you can then add a layer of mulch to the garden bed, ensuring you keep an area around 10cm in diameter around each plant to prevent moisture from being held against the trunk. Applying mulch helps improve the soil by conserving moisture, regulating temperature and reducing weed competition, which allows the hedge roots to establish more easily. As the mulch gradually breaks down, it also adds organic matter that enriches the soil structure and supports long-term fertility.
Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Jacob
