I finally tried that old timer's trick for setting posts in clay soil

I was talking to a retired guy at the supply yard last week and he said to soak the holes with a garden hose for an hour before you drop the post. I tried it on a job in Springfield and it made the dirt way easier to pack and level. Has anyone else found a simple trick that actually works as well as they say?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_grace2mo agoTop Commenter

Old tricks like @nora110 mentioned just make sense.

the_linda2mo ago

Soaking the hole first is smart. Reminds me of this roofer I knew who would wet down shingles before nailing them in summer heat. Said it kept them from cracking. Old guys have all the weird little fixes.

nora1102mo ago

Last summer I had to drill into some really old, dry concrete for a fence post. I soaked the spot with a garden hose for a good twenty minutes before I even got the drill out. It made a huge difference, the bit went in smooth and the concrete didn't chip or crumble at all. I tried it dry on a test spot first and it was a dusty, broken mess. Those old tricks really do work when the material is brittle.