When adding a fence to your garden or yard , you ’ll want to check that your berth kettle of fish are rich enough . If they ’re too shallow , your fencing might blow over , and that ’s definitely not an ideal situation ! If you ’re inquire about this , you ’re in the right place ! We ’ve done the research and will serve that question right here !
A fence office should be one - third to one - one-half of the fence post ’s above - earth superlative . This signify that for a 4 - ft fence stake , your post hole should be a maximum of 2 feet cryptic and a lower limit of 16 inches mysterious .
In the rest of this article , we ’ll share more data about fence posts , including the idealistic width , best pattern for digging a stake golf hole , and more . So , countenance ’s get come out !
How Deep Should A 4-Foot Fence Post Hole Be?
In general , you should dig fence post kettle of fish that are at least one - third to one - one-half of the fencing post ’s above - ground height . To factor in this in , simply divide your fencing post ’s meridian column inch by 2 or 3 . The answer is how deep your mail hole should be .
Using this chemical formula , a fence post that is 4 feet in high spirits above ground should have a post fix that is 16 to 24 inches bass .
A deeper hole is more impregnable than a shallow hole . For that reason , your post holes should be one - half of your post gob ’s above - ground peak if you live in a place that gets plenty of high wind or other extreme weather .
How Wide Should A 4-Foot Fence Post Hole Be?
If you ’re setting your fence posts flat in the ground , the holes should be about 4 inches wider than the Emily Post hole ’s width . That allows for a 2 - inch gap on every side of the post that will be refill with tamped - down dirt .
If you ’re pose the posts in concrete , the mail service hole should be three time the breadth of the post . This means that if your post is 4 inches wide , the post hole should be 12 inch wide .
How Long Should A 4-Foot Fence Post Be?
Similarly to the depth of your mail service kettle of fish , the factual post should be about one - half to one - third longer than the fencing ’s final height . So , if your fence needs to be 4 foot tall , you should buy fence post that are between 64 and 72 inches ( 6 animal foot ) long . This give you enough length to keep your post firmly in place .
Why Does My Fence Post Need To Be So Much Longer Than Its Final Height?
Well , cerebrate about it like this . ideate that your 4 - animal foot fence office is buried only 6 inches into the undercoat . Now , think giving it a strong push . It will probably pop right out of the priming , because there is n’t enough send underground tocounterbalancethe force of your pushing .
Now imagine that your fence Wiley Post is in a hole that is 16 to 24 column inch inscrutable , and picture giving it another push . This prison term , the effect generated by your energy is counterbalanced by the length of Charles William Post underground . That foreclose the post from coming out of the ground , stimulate it safe and secure .
How Far Apart Should Fence Posts Be?
Standard fencing post spacing can vary wide between 8 to 25 animal foot aside . Generally , however , the billet for a regular wooden fence should be 8 feet apart , while a tension wire fence could have billet spaced up to 25 feet .
How To Dig Fence Post Holes
To set up a good fence , you ’ll demand to be precise , exact , and use the right tool . So , we ’re going to serve you be successful with these quick instructions .
What You Will Need
Mark Your Fence Line
First , you ’ll use the string and wager to mark the precise location of the posts on your fencing line . If you do n’t have stakes , you may also use straight , uncompromising branches skip to about 1 1/2 to 2 feet long . Keep in judgment that the bowed stringed instrument line you ’re creating will denounce the outer perimeter of your fencing , mean that posts will be completely within the boundary of the strand line .
Use a rubber mallet to drive a stake into the earth where you want your first fencing post . Then , splice the ending of the string to your stake . Now , habituate the mensuration mag tape or yard measure to appraise the distance to the next fence post .
Next , assess one - half of your fencing C. W. Post ’s width off from the strand to find the bit to place your next stake . For case , you ’ll measure approximately 2 inch from the string channel for a fence post that is 4 inches wide . thump another interest into the dry land at this location .
Finally , you ’ll need to attach the string to the stake , which can be done in two different ways . For the first option , untwist the bowed stringed instrument enough to insert a nail through it , then drive the nail into the side of the stake with the hammer . For the second pick , simply loop the string around the stake .
persist in in this mode until you ’ve tick the locating of every fencing Wiley Post .
Mark And Loosen The Soil
Using your nigra , mark a band the same sizing as your eventual post jam just inside each stake . The outer edge of each trap should delineate up with the string line . After you ’ve marked every office yap , get rid of the wager and string . Keep the string , as you ’ll need to use it again .
Now , go back in and relax the soil so it ’s easier to remove with your mail service hole shovel . It may be well-situated to use a roofing tile shovel for this step , since the border is flatter and sharp . Use it to dig about six column inch into each fix , slit through any smaller roots .
To avoid damaging nearby plants , dump the filth you ’re digging out of the trap onto a wheelbarrow or tarp . keep open it to use when you fill again the post hole .
Dig The Holes
Now , it ’s metre to use your clamshell or place trap digger to dig the full post mess . To employ , but labour the opened jaws of the power shovel into the region of loosen soil , then close it again and lift the excess dirt out of the muddle . measuring rod oftentimes with your mensuration tape or yardstick to ensure the hole is reaching the right depth . iterate for each post mess .
If you chance impregnable root , use areciprocating sawor clip shears to cut through them . Using these tools alternatively of the edge of your excavator will make your life much easy ! However , you may use your digger to dislodge any rock on the sides of the jam so you may easily remove them .
Finally , tamp down the bottom of each cakehole with either the tamping end of a digging bar or the end of your spade ’s handgrip . This preclude the filth from settling after you ’ve already deploy the stake maw and possibly destabilizing them .
Mark The Post Locations
Restring your twine line using just a few stakes identify between the holes . Line the cosmic string up against the back edge of the place hole . Now , use the mensuration tape to find the precise placement of the post ’s edges . Do this by center on the post ’s width in between the edges of the post cakehole .
For example , if you poke an 8 - inch hole for your 4 - inch stake , you ’ll utilize the measuring tape recording to determine the 4 inches sandwich between 2 inches on the verboten edge of the hole . Using the lasting mark , pock this 4 - in segment on the bowed stringed instrument . That fashion , you ’ll know precisely where to trace up your fence Wiley Post when you install it .
Repeat this process for every mail maw .
If you need to leave your mail service holes overnight or during a rainstorm , report them with shroud of plyboard or another type of card . That will prevent rain damage , small animals getting stuck , and accidentally wrench ankles !
Install Your Posts (Without Concrete)
It ’s at last time to put in your fence posts ! For the purpose of this tutorial , we ’ll explicate how to do it without concrete .
First , direct your fence berth into the hole . Line it up against the string so the sharpness of the post match the fool on the string . It might be helpful to have someone else guard the post centered in the hole as you start to fill again the gob .
Using your spade , replenish the hole all around the post . give up every few column inch to firmly pack down the grime with your dig Browning automatic rifle or the end of your shovel ’s hold . Repeat for each post .
In Closing
Your fence stake pickle should be one - half to one - third of the fencing post ’s total above - ground length . This provides enough underground counterbalance to keep the fence post securely upright . The post jam should also be three times wider than the postal service if installing with concrete , or 4 " wide-eyed than the post if installing without .
As you add palisade to your garden , you might find these article helpful , too :
How To Fill The Gap Between A Fence Post And House
Should You Add A fencing To A Retaining Wall ? [ And How To Do So ]
