Clamshell diggers are difficult to use in deep holes because the narrow width of the hole makes it awkward to spread the handles apart. For deep holes, you may have to use a breaker bar to loosen the soil and a small trenching shovel to scoop it out, or you can switch to another digging tool.

Is it hard to use a post hole digger?

Clamshell diggers are difficult to use in deep holes because the narrow width of the hole makes it awkward to spread the handles apart. For deep holes, you may have to use a breaker bar to loosen the soil and a small trenching shovel to scoop it out, or you can switch to another digging tool.

How do you use a post hole digger Auger?

1. Step 1 – Choose hole position. Choose and mark the position you wish your plant or fence post to be. …
2. Step 2 – Prepare manual post-hole auger. …
3. Step 3 – Twist handle. …
4. Step 4 – Remove soil from ground. …
5. Step 5 – Remove soil from manual post-hole auger. …
6. Step 6 – Repeat.

What is the easiest way to dig post holes?

There’s no question about it — the fastest and easiest way to dig post holes is to use a gas-powered earth auger. Fill the tank with gas, position the auger on the ground, fire it up, hold on tight and watch the soil come streaming out of the hole.

Can you dig a post hole with a shovel?

With the turf removed, a long-handled shovel does a good job of removing the dirt. Dig with the blade plumb and the handle pushed forward to keep the walls of the hole straight up and down. … Once you’ve sheared off the sides of the hole into the bottom, then you scoop out the loose fill.

How do you dig a post hole without an auger?

1. Step 1: String your line and pound the stakes. …
2. Step 2: Carve out a soil divot with a spade. …
3. Step 3: Loosen earth with a tile shovel. …
4. Step 4: Use your clamshell digger. …
5. Step 5: Use a reciprocating saw on large roots. …
6. Step 6: Dislodge rocks with a digging bar. …
7. Step 7: Tamp the soil with the other end.

What is the difference between an auger and a post hole digger?

What is the difference between an auger and a post hole digger? The difference between the two is in how they dig holes. You thrust a traditional post hole digger into the ground and remove the soil between the scoops. An auger “screws” into the ground and transports dirt along the blade up to the surface.

How do you soften ground to dig a post hole?

If you’re planning to put in a much longer fence line, soften the soil by digging pilot holes 6 to 10 inches deep then fill each with water from a garden hose. Allow the water to percolate down through the soil before attempting to dig out the hole using a post hole digging shovel, also called a clamshell shovel.

How deep should an 8 foot post be in the ground?

In general, holes should be at least 3 feet deep for posts that extend 8 feet or more above ground level. Posts that extend 6 feet above ground level should have holes at least 2 1/2 feet deep.

How do you install fence posts in hard ground?

If terrain is too rocky for setting wood posts, you can usually put steel posts into the ground far enough to hold, using the rock baskets every so often for braces. Other strategies for rocks, if using a post pounder to set wood posts along a challenging fenceline, is to use a metal “post” to create a pilot hole.

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Why is my auger not digging?

An auger that is slow to cut through soil or does not cut at all may indicate an issue with the auger itself. Damaged blades on the auger will prevent it from properly cutting through the ground and moving the dirt up and out of the hole. … A local small engine shop or the factory can sharpen the blade on an auger.

How big of a hole do you need for a 4x4 post?

The diameter of your post hole should be three times the diameter of your post. So, if you’re planning on using a four-inch round or 4×4-inch square post, your post hole will need to be 12 inches in diameter. For a six-foot-high fence post, we would need a hole that’s 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter.

Do augers work in clay soil?

Gas Auger Overview If your soil is loamy or sandy, you too can drill 30 holes in a day’s worth of rental. But rocky ground or heavy clay can stymie even the most powerful auger.

How deep do post holes need to be?

Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).

Is 2 ft deep enough for fence post?

2 feet is the minimum depth that you should dig your fence post holes for. To dig the holes one-third to one-half of the post’s aboveground height, is a general formula. The deeper you dig the holes, the more stability your fence has.

How deep can you dig with post hole diggers?

Post hole diggers have a maximum effective depth of about 3/4 of their handle length, so a five foot pair will dig about 3 1/2 half deep. Very hard earth like clay is extremely difficult to dig with a manual pair of post hole diggers. A rock bar may work on dry clay.

Are electric post hole diggers any good?

Best Electric Post Hole Digger With a powerful 1,500-watt electric motor capable of spinning a steel auger bit at to 2,700 revolutions per minute (rpm), the XtremepowerUS Industrial Electric Post Hole Digger is a great machine if you can to work close to a power source and don’t want a gas-burning unit.

Can you build a fence without sinking posts?

If you need a temporary fence or a border that you can move as needed, a quick way is to use concrete blocks. Attach a bracket to a concrete block that is heavy enough to hold the wood or other material you plan to use to build the fence. The posts can be mounted to the brackets and the fence finished from there.

Do all fence posts need concrete?

Do Fence Posts Need To Be Set in Concrete? No, fence posts don’t need to be set in concrete, and there are plenty of other ways to fix your posts if this feels a bit too permanent. If you are using wooden posts, concrete may actually be the worst option.

Can you dig a post hole by hand?

You can use a post hole digger or power auger to dig the hole. A post hole digger is a manual tool and will get the job done in average soil. If you have hard, rocky soil or a lot of roots – you may want to opt for a power auger.

Can you concrete posts in the rain?

Calcium chloride is the most common accelerator used when speaking about concrete. Avoid setting your fence posts in the rain! … There is no reasonable way to excavate the holes to remove the water, so what you wind up with is a weak bond between your concrete and your posts.

How far apart do you put fence posts?

Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn’t cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire.

How many bags of concrete do I need to set a fence post?

Most fence post holes will need between 1 – 4 bags of concrete to securely hold the post in place. The best way to determine the size of the hole is: Diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the fence post. Depth of the hole is one-third to half the above ground height of the fence post.

What is the best concrete mix for fence posts?

For a small to mid sized job I recommend going with premixed. The best concrete mix for fence posts I’ve found is Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix in a 50 lb bag. It’s 4000 psi, easy to work with, sets up fast, and doesn’t need to be mixed. Just pour it in the hole and soak with water.

Is it easier to dig wet or dry ground?

Soil that’s turned over when wet will form clods that will be very difficult to break apart later, Trinklein said. This is because wet soil is more easily compacted than dry soil. He recommends the “baseball test” before you start digging.

How long does it take to dig a 6ft hole?

It takes 0.07 hours (4.24 minutes) to dig 1.23 cubic yards of earth in stable soil. This means it takes 4.24 minutes to dig a 6 foot deep hole of 16 inches diameter.

How do you set a 4x4 post without concrete?

1. Find a concrete surface and lightly tamp your digging iron against it. …
2. Remove the turf and topsoil from the site of the post. …
3. Dig the hole putting the displaced earth onto the tarp. …
4. Pour 4 inches of gravel into the hole.
5. Place the post in the hole. …
6. Add another 2 inches of gravel around the base of the post.

How many bags of concrete do I need for a 4x4 post?

Depth50 Lb Bags24″30″432″36″5

How do you keep fence posts from rotting in concrete?

1. Wet Rot Vs. Dry Rot. …
2. Choose Rot Resistant Wood. …
3. Dry the Fence Posts Out. …
4. Consider Adding Posts to Concrete. …
5. Apply Preservative to the Wooden Post. …
6. Consider Staining Your Wood. …
7. Start Digging. …
8. Fill Up the Hole.

Is 1 foot deep enough for fence post?

Determining Post Length You should always bury one-third of your fence post underground. … This means that unless you are building a 2-foot fence, which is unlikely in any garden, a 1-foot hole will not be deep enough to support your post. For main and gateposts, you should dig the holes an additional 6 inches deep.