Whether it ’s a 5 - Akka hobby homestead or a large farm with hundreds of Akko , fencing is a big task .
And no matter what style of fence is used — electric or wooden fencing material for farm animal , welded wire to keep predator out of a garden / grove or just a decorative fencing to spruce up the boundary of your property — one common denominator is that they all require posts .
There are a couple of tricks to serve you countersink them securely so that they last for a foresighted time to come . Hereare a few suggestions to facilitate you put up posts like a pro .
Types of Diggers
There are several different tools you may utilize when get the picture a posthole for firm fencing . Daniel Johnson
Manual Hand Diggers
For lowly fencing job , a manual , hand - power posthole digger might do , especially if you are n’t in a big hurry and can afford to undertake the job tardily , delve only a hole or two at a time .
It ’s certainly a good exercise if nothing else . But hand power shovel can really bear witness their time value when repairing fencing . This is where a handwriting posthole digger is an fantabulous digging tool as well as a time - saver .
hypothesize you have one or two fence posts that need work . Perhaps they are rotting at ground level and simply need substitute .
Daniel Johnson
In the time you could really warm up up the tractor , detach whatever implement is currently on it , hook up a three - point Emily Post hollow digger and maneuver your tractor into the precise spot , you could probably have the Modern hole dug by hand — job done with only a niggling fret required .
Obviously , for 10 or hundreds of posts , this is n’t the tool . But conceive of your hired man shovel like an axe , hammer or screwdriver — fast , light , simple , honest and always ready to expend .
Hand diggers also have a role when you ’re using auger pecker . You might need to employ the hand diggers to straighten the edges of a crooked mess or make other fine fitting .
These farm fence fundamentals will help you keep things untroubled .
Handheld Auger
One step up from a manual hand digger is using a handheld auger with a little locomotive for posthole excavation . There are various sizes of these available , coming in one- or two - soul version .
The good news here is that the engine and plumber’s snake take over the job of sink in the ground and raising soil to surface . If all run short well , a hole can be dug commencement to finish in only a couple of minutes .
The bad news is that hand-held augers can be quite fatiguing to utilize . Because of the impregnable torsion from the engine , the handles of the auger constantly assay to swivel — sometimes with a powerful yank force if the auger remove a stone .
Daniel Johnson
This requires the operator(s ) to constantly brace against the political machine , which is concentrated workplace . Additionally , once the auger gets all the way to the bottom , it can be challenging to raise back up .
Onetechnique that can help is to lift the auger out of the hole several times to bring the soil up in pocket-size amount of money .
3-Point Auger Digger
If you already own a tractor with a 3 - stage hitch , then using a 3 - point post hole auger makes a lot of sense . It take up most of the forcible piece of work out of the project and reduces much of the job to merely determining the post locations and operating the tractor .
Yet even though the tractor is doing the sound work , this is a Book of Job that does take some fourth dimension , peculiarly for many posts . You ’ll call for to point the tractor into the exact spot — within a couplet of inches of your target — and also take care that the auger is go in straight . ( Having an assistant or two on hired hand is a big help . )
Also , fencing material tends to be one of those jobs that you do n’t do every day , so the motion becomes : Should you purchase an auger or just adopt or rent one for your episodic fencing material project?Daniel Johnson
Daniel Johnson
Skid Steer Auger
Similar in concept to the 3 - point version , skid steers can also be equipped with herculean posthole screw auger , too .
One welfare here is that you ’re operating the wimble in your forward field of vision and do n’t have to constantly look over your berm the way you do on a tractor .
Check out these 4 tips for auger drilling fencepost holes .
Other Tools To Have
Like most mental synthesis and farm jobs , post installation require a small fleet of tool to get the job done . So in addition to your posthole digger , you ’ll probably need to load up on the pursual .
Levels
Slopes and mismatched primer can fool your eye into thinking a post is coiffure straight even when it ’s not .
Combat the problem by continue a carpenter ’s level on mitt . Or well yet , use a handy post level that fastens right to the post while you ’re installing .
A post grade offers multiple bubbles to help you keep the stake properly orient as you backfill . Daniel Johnson
Digging Bar
You wo n’t be digging the maw with the digging bar . However , you will want it around for prying out any large rocks that might appear in your hole and for tamp down down the soil during the backfilling appendage .
You ’ll require to employ the tapered end of the dig bar to force soil down into the hole alongside the post , and then use the plane oddment when you ’re done to tamp down down the soil decent at undercoat level .
Shovel & Steel Rake
Digging a posthole remove a lot of soil from the ground , and you ’re going to postulate all of it ( and probably more ! ) to backfill again around the new post ( unless you ’re using concrete or gravel ) .
A shovel will help you get the bulk of the filth back in the hole , and a blade rake will make quick workplace of the rest .
You ’ll also need a spadeful to remove turf or sod prior to using an auger . think back : Most 3 - point attachments do n’t apply force down , so they may have trouble penetrate thick-skulled grass .
Water Container
pullulate a small amount of H2O into your mail service hole as you localize it can help with soil compaction and make the departure between a steadfast office and one that is a piece slack .
crushed rock or Construction Aggregate
This is for rot prevention . ( See later in this article . )
Choose the right kind of fencing for your stock case .
Backfill Like a Pro
For solid fence post that wo n’t wiggle , proper backfilling is key . One helpful tip is to drudge a jam significantly larger than the post that will go in it .
Next , consider adding and pack down a few inches of gravel or combine as a understructure at the bottom of the hole for extra drain . This provides any water that does ooze into your hole with a place to go and foreclose pooling at the bottom of your post , cut down on some decomposition issue .
And speaking of rot , there are a few idea you may use to help keep your posts standing as long as potential .
cedarwood posts are course rot - resistant , but you may also use pressure - treat timber .
Some folks try out coating the bottom of the post with roofing tar to help keep wet out ( specially mighty at ground level where most Emily Post eventually die off ) , but it ’s unmanageable to say if this widen the life of the post or not .
you’re able to also try using posts made of solid heartwood and not a mixture of heartwood and sapwood . Heartwood comes from the interior portion of a tree and is more decompose immune .
Take It Slow
As you backfill the mess , do it slowly , breaking up clump of soil and dispatch any little rocks that might cause air pockets around the Emily Price Post . If you backfill too promptly , you may find that the soil is too loose down at the bottom , allow the spot to pivot and sway back and off when you push on it .
pack down regularly as you go , and employ a small fleck of body of water when needed . You might also consider backfilling all the room up with gravel , and while this adds extra price to the project , it does ply good drainage .
For sandy stain or for posts that demand to be extra strong , you could backfill with a tight - dry concrete mix and then add water .
However , one potential problem with this is that water might stress to seep into the juncture between the post and the concrete . Concrete can also be a problem if you ever need to move the fence or replace the post ( from hoar heaving , for example ) .
you could do it ! fencing material is a big job , but a strong , well - built fence will contribute beauty and functionality to your property for years to come .
Sidebar: Safety First
Before you start any digging project , know where you ’re get the picture . Think through your fencing plan before you start .
Will you be near any building or other area with inhume electric , water , telephone or gas telephone circuit ? contrive on calling a utility location service ( dial 8 - 1 - 1 in the U.S. ) well before you ’re quick to start your project .
Projects are n’t fun unless they ’re good , so take a few minutes before pop out to think through your workplace process and employ the proper safety equipment equipment :
Learn how to make a stone crib !
Sidebar: Dealing with Rocks
Rocks are often an offspring when post hole digging , but more so in some locations than others . If you hit a stone that your gimlet or diggers ca n’t remove , try loosening the area around it with your digging stripe . With luck you ’ll be able-bodied to get enough leverage on the rock with your Browning automatic rifle to rid it up .
If this does n’t work , you might need to enlarge the posthole by labour down with your power shovel and excavate the rock’n’roll .
If worst comes to speculative , you may consider proceed the post slightly up or down the fence transmission line . This might be acceptable for galvanising fence where the posts are separated by ten-spot of feet .
If the John Rock is very large and you perfectly must invest a post in that spot , consider an aboveground solution such as astone cribbage , where the weight of the rocks holds the post just .
Otherwise , it might be time for a backhoe !
This article originally appeared in the May / June issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
