![]() ![]() If you want to do this, stop two inches before the ground level, and switch to using soil. You can also get a nice effect by growing grass right up to the base of the posts. Unlike concrete, you can carry on and install the chain or rails immediately, making it a quicker job. Put the post in the hole, make sure it’s straight (again, this is ideally a two-person job), and then backfill with more gravel. You need to dig that one-third deep hole with your clam digger, then put a layer of gravel at its base. The process is very similar to setting a fence post in dirt. It’s a good option if you live in an area that gets a lot of heavy frosts, as it makes the fence less prone to frost heaves. It doesn’t work in loose or sandy soils, but is ideal for heavy, clay-type dirt. However, the success of gravel as a post setting depends upon the soil. Gravel can be a great alternative to using concrete, and it does away with any drainage problems either underground or around the base. Dirt-setting fence posts is a great workout.Ĭheck out the latest pricing on yard fencing at Is it a Good Idea To Set Fence Posts in Gravel? When you reach the top of the hole, shovel a good amount of the mix around the base of the post, forming a mound that lets water run down. You’ll need a second person to hold the post while you backfill around it, and keep checking its level.īackfill with a mix of soil and sharp gravel, and keep tamping it down with something long and thin. Insert the post, checking with a level that it’s straight. Hole dug, pop a flat rock, some gravel, or a piece of broken concrete in the base to use as a footing. If you’re working with heavy clay soil, you may need to keep washing or wiping the digger to prevent clogging. Knock rocks away with a bar, then pick them up with the clam digger. You may need to also have a reciprocating saw to hand, in case you encounter tough roots. Start by loosening the soil with a trowel, then dig down using a clam digger. The hole needs to be as close to the diameter of the post as possible. So, if you want a six foot garden fence, buy a nine foot post, then dig down three feet. ![]() The general rule is to dig down to a depth of one third of the post’s height. So let’s have a look at the steps you need to take: How To Install Fence Posts (How Deep Should a Fence Post Be?) It seems too simple a solution however, if you follow the correct process, you can set your fence posts straight into the dirt.Īs mentioned, this is often more beneficial than actually setting your fence posts in concrete in the first place. Can Fence Posts Be Set in Dirt? (Setting Fence Posts Without Concrete) There are plenty of other ways to set wooden fence posts, and we’ll take a look at these one at a time. If you want the reassurance of a concrete-fixed fence without the risk of rot, use a rust-proof metal like stainless steel or aluminum, or go for low-maintenance vinyl posts. You can also try to set the concrete so it forms a low mound with the post at the top, so water gently drains downwards.Īnd of course, you don’t have to use wood for your fence posts. Treat the wood well first, then once everything has set in place, caulk around the base of the post. The solutions? Well, some gardeners swear by caulking around the post to prevent this little gap from forming in the first place. This will let water seep in but it can’t seep out through the concrete, which leads to damp wood, which leads to a rotten fence post. Because the wood and concrete expand and contract at different rates, a small “collar” will eventually form around the base of the post. When you eventually manage to prise out the rotting wood, you’re left with a lot of empty concrete holes in your yard.Ĭoncrete can actually hasten the rotting process, too. You can see the problem now: the post is rotten, but it’s stuck in a concrete-filled hole. Well, yes, it is at first, but the problem is that wooden posts eventually rot. Why is this, because surely concrete is the most secure way of fixing a post? I f you are using wooden 4×4 fence posts, concrete may actually be the worst option. 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. Is it a Good Idea To Set Fence Posts in Gravel?ĭo Fence Posts Need To Be Set in Concrete?.How To Install Fence Posts (How Deep Should a Fence Post Be?).Can Fence Posts Be Set in Dirt? (Setting Fence Posts Without Concrete).Do Fence Posts Need To Be Set in Concrete?. ![]()
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