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Hand Digging the Holes
If you do not have a tractor or a
friendly local farmer, you'll need to roll up your sleeves and start
digging by hand. This may seem like a tremendous amount of
work, but with practice and good soil conditions you can complete
several holes an hour.
Post hole digging by hand takes both
strength and stamina. It helps if you start by removing the sod using an ordinary shovel. Set
the divit aside and use this to complete the hole after the post is
set.
If the ground is dry, fill the hole
with water and move on the next hole. Return to this hole after the
water has percolated in.
To help loosen the soil, use a digging
iron. We recommend one with a small blade end. This will
allow you to shape and scrape the inside of the hole as you dig.
Try to keep the hole to 6 to 9 inches in diameter and as vertical as
possible.
Continue digging until you have
reached as far as you can. This should be at least 26",
though 30" or more is preferable. The more time you spend
now, the more plumb your fence will be after a few years.
Between the horses leaning and the wind blowing, strive for the
deepest hole you can.
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