split rail fence posts

[bellweather]

My property is in Western Mass and I'm installing a split rail fence. I've received conflicting advise concerning setting the posts. Some say just back fill with dirt, others say use gravel-mix cement, and some say throw in some dry cement and the moisture will harden it up. My instincts say just back fill with dirt - no biggie if the posts heave around a bit, afterall it's supposed to look rustic. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Golfgar4]

Bellweather,

For what it's worth - our City Park department never uses concrete to set wooden fence posts. All they use is packed in earth. If the posts are going to be supporting any kind of structure, then concrete is used. But for just fences, only good ole dirt.

 

[EdKing]

I say just backfilll with dirt. That is the way we set the posts for our woven/barbwire and smoothwire fences around here, and some have been in the ground since before I was born and are still standing strong.

 

[cowboydoc]

Backfill is fine but make sure you tamp the heck out of them. They shouldn't move when you are done. If you do them that way you will be fine. To do it right you put in a little dirt tamp it hard and continue until the hole is fillled. If you just backfill the dirt and don't tamp them your fence won't stand up very long.

 

[MikePA]

The only place I use concrete is where there's going to be stress on the post, e.g., gate hanging on the post. As cowboydoc said, tamp, tamp, tamp (I use the other end of a digging iron)! I am installing a fence too and I am using one sixty pound bag of concrete in each hole where there might be a gate (I haven't decided on the location of the gates yet). The holes are 36 inches deep. I center the post, check plumb in both directions, and pour in a bag of dry concrete mix, tamp it well. Pour in another foot of fill then tamp. I repeat the process one more time and the hole is filled. Oh, make sure the posts are facing the direction you want them to. After tamping the dry concrete, you can not turn the post. Don't ask me how I know this. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[PTFarmer]

<font color=blue>no biggie if the posts heave around a bit, afterall it's supposed to look rustic</font color=blue>

For gosh sakes, don't let wroughtn harv hear you talking like that.

 

[edt]

Hi bellweahter i'm from so. n.h have set poles intamped dirt
but seen some where it may be better to use stone dust better holding strengh and good water run off i will be doing some poles soon will try stone dust and let you know
ed

 

[bellweather]

Thanks for all the good advice everybody. Looks like I won't be mixing any concrete this weekend.