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Installing the posts in the ground
Posts have a number of functions in a fence. Fence posts hold up the wires. Strainer posts take the weight and force of the strained wires. Line posts provide additional support. To be suitable for any of these functions, the posts must be set deep enough and securely into the ground.
Post drivers (right) are often the most efficient and effective means of ramming posts into the ground. They are driven from the hydraulics or PTO (Power Take Off) of a tractor. A large hammer or pile-driver repeatedly lifts and drops on the top of the post until it reaches the required depth.
Hand drivers are used to manually ram steel posts into the ground. Hydraulically driven steel post rammers greatly reduce the physical effort of ramming posts. A sledge hammer can be used if a driver is not available
If a post is not rammed directly into the ground then a hole must be dug and cleaned and the dirt rammed back around the post once it is placed in the hole. Digging the hole to the correct depth will ensure that the post is installed at the right height. Strainer posts require wider, deeper holes than line posts.
Post hole diggers are also driven from the PTO or hydraulics of a tractor. They reduce the manual labour required but each hole needs to be cleaned and squared at the bottom so that the post will sit straight.
A variety of hand tools can be used to manually dig post holes. These include mattocks, picks and shovels. Long-handled post hole shovels are designed so that soil can be lifted from deep post holes.
A crowbar is an essential tool when fencing. It can be used as a lever to move strainer posts, stays, large rocks and other heavy objects. The chisel-shaped cutting end is vital when digging post holes, especially for splitting rocks, chopping through roots and loosening clay. The head on the top of many crowbars is used to ram the dirt back around the post. A wooden rammer is a more lightweight alternative to a crowbar.
When ramming a post, rocks can be thrown in with the dirt and wedged around the post. Topsoil should be avoided as it does not pack as well as the clay subsoil and may contain organisms that can rot the post. The post should be checked with a level during the ramming process to ensure that it is vertical. A well-rammed post will not move if pushed manually.
A hand auger (right) can be used to dig narrow post holes. It can work well in soils that have a moderate proportion of clay but is less successful in stony, heavy clay or sandy soils.
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