That old timer who told me to dig post holes 6 inches deeper than spec was right

A retired fence guy named Dale warned me at the supply yard that 24 inches wasn't enough for our clay soil in mid-Missouri. I ignored him and saved time on a 200-foot run last spring. Three months later the whole section shifted after a heavy rain. Now I always go down to 30 inches. Anyone else get schooled by an old pro?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_foster10d ago

Did you end up going back and redoing it deeper or just let it ride? I learned a similar lesson the hard way when I put in a mailbox post and thought I knew better than the old guy at the hardware store. He said the frost line here in Iowa would pop that thing right out of the ground, but I went with 18 inches anyway. First thaw came and that post was leaning so bad the mailman started leaving notes. Had to dig it out and go down to 36 inches with extra gravel.

linda30510d ago

Read something about frost heave the other day, crazy how much force ice can put on a post even just a few inches down. Glad you got it fixed right before the mailman really lost it lol