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- #11
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Don't bother. It does not strengthen anything that needs strengthening for a run; what it mainly does is cost you extra money and labor, make it impossible to remove the post, and to some extent encourages the post to rot off at ground level quicker than if it were properly set directly into the ground. (Yes, really).
You are best off, for nearly all circumstances, setting the post directly into the ground, with the fill tamped real hard every 4-6" of refilling the hole, and 'crowned' a bit above ground level when you're done. Whether to use gravel is a contentious issue and depends on your soil. In you-could-make-pots-out-of-it clay subsoil, gravel is not such a great idea. In areas with significant frost-heave issues, gravel is not such a great idea (it 'grabs' the post extra badly). Elsewhere, <shrug>, it may not hurt and in some cases may be useful but I have built, repaired, removed, and lived with a lot of fenceposts over the years and not gotten the impression that it is really a big deal. And just using the dirt you took out of the hole is a lot *easier*
Set the posts as deep as you can stand, 2.5' is a bare minimum for 4x4s and deeper is better.
Thanks Pat! I like easy! I'll dig as deep as I can and just use the dirt I dug out!
I am always keeping my eyes open for some used pavers anyway, if I get some maybe I'll use that on the apron. We also have a stream right near the coop, so maybe I'll roll some big rocks out of the stream bad.
Don't bother. It does not strengthen anything that needs strengthening for a run; what it mainly does is cost you extra money and labor, make it impossible to remove the post, and to some extent encourages the post to rot off at ground level quicker than if it were properly set directly into the ground. (Yes, really).
You are best off, for nearly all circumstances, setting the post directly into the ground, with the fill tamped real hard every 4-6" of refilling the hole, and 'crowned' a bit above ground level when you're done. Whether to use gravel is a contentious issue and depends on your soil. In you-could-make-pots-out-of-it clay subsoil, gravel is not such a great idea. In areas with significant frost-heave issues, gravel is not such a great idea (it 'grabs' the post extra badly). Elsewhere, <shrug>, it may not hurt and in some cases may be useful but I have built, repaired, removed, and lived with a lot of fenceposts over the years and not gotten the impression that it is really a big deal. And just using the dirt you took out of the hole is a lot *easier*
Set the posts as deep as you can stand, 2.5' is a bare minimum for 4x4s and deeper is better.
Also, what do you use to stake down the apron outside the run? I have some 2x4 green garden fencing in 24" length someone gave me which I want to use for my apron, how is the best way to stake it down?
Whatever you like. You can cut back the turf, put the apron down, and replace the turf back on it (hard work but looks invisible); you can turn the outer edge of the apron down slightly so's not to catch toes or lawnmowers or the attention of predators, and use tentpegs (real or homemade) to stake it down til the turf 'consumes' it; or you can top some or all of the apron with anything you like, mulch, dirt, gravel, rocks, concrete rubble, pavers, a flowerbed, whatever.
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
Whatever you like. You can cut back the turf, put the apron down, and replace the turf back on it (hard work but looks invisible); you can turn the outer edge of the apron down slightly so's not to catch toes or lawnmowers or the attention of predators, and use tentpegs (real or homemade) to stake it down til the turf 'consumes' it; or you can top some or all of the apron with anything you like, mulch, dirt, gravel, rocks, concrete rubble, pavers, a flowerbed, whatever.
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
Thanks Pat! I like easy! I'll dig as deep as I can and just use the dirt I dug out!
I am always keeping my eyes open for some used pavers anyway, if I get some maybe I'll use that on the apron. We also have a stream right near the coop, so maybe I'll roll some big rocks out of the stream bad.
