Min fence post depth

[Eric_Phillips]

I am running a line of fence down the rocky clay streak though my property. I have given up on the post driver since the post either wont go in or go in very crooked. So I have started drilling the holes the thing is the last hole I was able to get to today has a rock too big for me to break. It is down 33". I have the posts 58" above the ground. These are 4x4 line posts for a tensioned fence. So my question is how deep do I have to go and when can I call it good when I hit rocks?

 

[whistlepig]

Deeper is always better but on the tough holes 30" deep has always worked for me. I try to get 36". At 24" the post doesn't seem that solid in the soft ground where we live now.

 

[jenkinsph]

Not sure about your part of the world but for line posts 24=36 inches is plenty. In most areas 24" should be sufficient if packed well. For gate posts I set as deep as I can, usually about 48" and for terminal posts about 30 to 36".


Steve

 

[whistlepig]

Soil is different in other parts of the country. In our soft ground here the corner posts and line braces have to 36" deep and set in concrete. If not the tractor will pull them at an angle when stretching the fence. We used to live on very rocky ground. On the rocky ground I could go 24". The only good thing about rocky ground.

 

[jenkinsph]

Soil is different in other parts of the country. In our soft ground here the corner posts and line braces have to 36" deep and set in concrete. If not the tractor will pull them at an angle when stretching the fence. We used to live on very rocky ground. On the rocky ground I could go 24". The only good thing about rocky ground.

I hear ya, round here we have to fight for topsoil.

Notice Eric's first sentence in his original post, rocky clay soil, should pack nicely.


Steve

 

[Hoosier Farmboy]

Make sure they are deeper than your frost line. Here in Indiana, the general rule is deeper than 24" for anything. If there will be a lot of pull on them, the deeper the better.

 

[Dave5264]

Up Here in the great white north, im down 46-48", plenty sturdy and below the frost line.

 

[chamjoe]

how well its packed will make the difference. just remember that your end posts and braces will hold most of the tension so they are the most important. depth should be fine in your soil.

 

[pie2mats]

hello everyone!

nice way to put it. nice insights regarding the fencing matter. works well in lcientele explanation and information and resource option. :thumbsup: