any tips how to soften clay ground to dig fence posts 4feet down, auger won't work because ground is to hard

Question

i rented a auger to dig the holes but it will only go down 1 foot because the ground is mostly clay and solid. any solutions would be helpful

Answer 1

Follow those dig a hole and poutr in water ideas. But when you put int he water add a cup of clothes washing liquid detergent. Its wetting ability will make the water sink it much more quickly and thoroughly, When it soaks in add more water but not more detergent.

Answer 2

Try filling the hole with a little bit of water. Then let it soak for a day or so. That will help soften the clay. It will only soften it though as far as the water soaks downwards.

You might want to also try a 3 point hitch auger for the back of a tractor that hooks up to the tractor's PTO shaft. They work much easier than hand operated ones.

Another thing you may want to consider is if the grounds is just really hard or whether you are hitting bedrock. In some areas, bedrock is not very far under the ground.

Answer 3

I think you are just going to have to leave the hose on the area until the ground softens up. Even in soft clay the auger is a lot of hard work. We had to do this too. Good luck!

Answer 4

We always run water over the spot where we want to dig and let it soak in for awhile.

As for posts, I would make a hole a few inches deep and fill it with water. Let it soak in for an hour or so. Or even over night would be best.

Answer 5

take a piece of rebar and pound it into the ground at the point of where you want the hole to be. You will need to work it back and forth until it becomes loose. Be careful about undergound pipes and wires. You might need to call a locator service if necessary.