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josko021

Putting in a permanent post

15 years ago

Not sure where to post this, but here goes:

I have a ~40' row of raspberries I'd like to trellis but am not sure how to put in the three posts required. They would hold wires 5' high, and I expect a fair bit of pull on the end posts, maybe 50 lbs at 5'. Subsoil is sandy with rocks from egg size to a cubic yard. I can pound in a rebar some 3', as it slides off and between the rocks, but I can't pound in a 2x4 or 4x4.

I'm hoping for advice on how to put in more-or-less permanent posts. I expect to dig with a post digger but am unsure how deep to go, what to use for a post, and how to fill the hole once the post is in. I don't want to use pressure-treated wood, so a steel pipe makes more sense than cedar or untreated wood. I don't want to pour in any more concrete than I have to, but am willing to do it if it's the only way to go.

Any advice on how to put in these three posts would be welcome, and thanks in advance.

Any advice

Comments (9)

  • 15 years ago

    Have you looked at steel "T-posts"?

  • 15 years ago

    Hi Josko,
    It doesn't cost anything for an estimate ,call a local fence company and tell them you would like them to give you an estimate to install galvanized fence poles. It is cheaper than you would expect, and if you don't have the tools and experience to do it yourself, it will actually save you money,to let a professional crew do it.


    {{gwi:8596}}

  • 15 years ago

    What Jon said.

  • 15 years ago

    Try the Fruit and Orchards Forum. What you're describing is a very common trellising technique for brambles, and the experienced growers there should be able to advise you.

  • 15 years ago

    If your going to be tighten up the wire and want to avoid a massive post and concrete thing you should google how to brace a corner post T post will not cut it on the ends would work fine for the middle I don't think you would need concrete if it was braced good enough

    Dig the holes as deep as you can your rocks might decide that(: then see if you need concrete you don't have to mix it just mix with the back fill dirt make sure to use a tamper bar to beat in and compact the soil around the post after every few inches of fill

    Call your local power company if there is one near by and ask about some old cedar poles sometimes they have them a lot of times only the bottoms were creosote treated

    You can get fence tightener ratchets at a farm store very cheap to keep your wires nice and tight come to think of it that would be a great place to ask about the fencing too

  • 15 years ago

    If your going to be tighten up the wire and want to avoid a massive post and concrete thing you should google how to brace a corner post T post will not cut it on the ends would work fine for the middle I don't think you would need concrete if it was braced good enough

    Dig the holes as deep as you can your rocks might decide that(: then see if you need concrete you don't have to mix it just mix with the back fill dirt make sure to use a tamper bar to beat in and compact the soil around the post after every few inches of fill

    Call your local power company if there is one near by and ask about some old cedar poles sometimes they have them a lot of times only the bottoms were creosote treated

    You can get fence tightener ratchets at a farm store very cheap to keep your wires nice and tight come to think of it that would be a great place to ask about the fencing too

  • 15 years ago

    I put in two fence posts for a grape arbor two years ago. It cost me $700---hospital fees, plus materials. Standing on a ladder, I heard me command myself, "Ann, you hit that nail like a man would," right before I landed on the ground with my thumb broken down the middle from tip to first joint.

    Lesson #4222

  • 15 years ago

    Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry once said:
    "an Ann's got to know her limitations"

  • 15 years ago

    Like Jon said.
    Get post put down & string 1/8 steel/stainless steel cable across it. Put up ribbon so you can see the cable.