How to Install a Wooden Post

Before starting your project, look up all city ordinances and regulations regarding post installation and placement.  Next, contact your local Diggers Hotline to have them check for any gas or electric lines that may fall where you’d like to place your post.

Once permits have been attained and gas and electric lines have been marked, you can start installing your post.

The tools you will need to install your posts are listed below:

• Measuring tape
• Post hole digger
• Gravel
• Gravel tamper
• Wooden posts
• Concrete
• Level
• Stakes

There are a few tools you can use to dig a hole.  If you’re only digging one hole, you can use a manual post hole digger.  If you have many holes to dig, a gas-powered post hole digger may be the way to go as digging holes can take a lot out of a person physically. 

Before purchasing a posthole digger, manual or gas-powered, check with your local hardware store to see if you can rent one.

The depth and diameter measurements of the hole should be listed within the city ordinance and regulations information. 

You can use concrete or gravel to set your posts.  Concrete is the best option if you have sandy, loose soil.  Gravel is best used with clay or heavier soil.  Gravel is less durable than concrete but allows for better water drainage.

To set your post with concrete, place a 6-inch layer of gravel in the bottom of the hole and tamp it down.  Place your post in the center of the hole on top of the gravel layer and pour in the concrete. 

Using a stick, poke the concrete to eliminate air pockets and help the concrete cure evenly.  Make sure the post is perfectly vertical with a level and use stakes to secure the post while the concrete cures.  You will want the top of the concrete to be above ground level and slope away from the post to keep standing water away from the post.

To set your post with gravel, make sure you are using crushed gravel.  Place the post in the center of the hole, pour in 5-inches of gravel and tamp it down.  Add in another 5-inches and tamp it down again.  You will continue this process until the hole is filled. 

If you want grass to grow around your post, stop adding gravel when there is a 2-inch space between the gravel and ground level.  Fill this area with soil. 

Give your newly installed post added curb appeal by adding a Post Shield!