Post Holes and Tree Roots for the Dummy Fencer

roots in post hole

We are never certain whether the people we nominate for DotD thought they were performing a public service with their freelance posts or knew darned well they were spreading the information equivalent of manure on the internet. In some cases, we think we know, but you can't be sure. In the case of today's nominee, eHowian Debbie Tolle, we'd like to think that she's a garden-variety dumbass; but maybe that psychology MS just didn't apply to the Hunker.com post, "How to Dig Holes in Tree Roots for Fence Posts."

Having tackled similar projects a few times themselves, several of our staffers are fully in agreement with Tolle's assertion that,

"Digging fence post holes is not a fun job, and it is worse when there is a root directly in the path of a post..."

...although we'd be more likely to talk about the path of the hole instead of the post, but what the heck. It's when Debbie started to tell us how to get past the intruding root that things got interesting:

"The most effective method of installing a post through a root is to drill through it. There is a power tool available known as an auger that will drill through the root, and allow you to put the post right where you need it."

Wait, what? An auger will "drill through the root"? That's not the experience of the staffers who've rented augers in the past! So we read on to find out how Tolle wants her readers to apply this "knowledge." Here's some of what she says:

"Ask for help before using the auger to drill through the tree root. An auger resembles a large drill, but it is heavy, and it will throw you when it hits the root... Hold the auger steady and with a firm grip until the auger has cut through the tree root."

No way, Debs: that's not our experience! In fact, we looked up instructions for how to use a power auger, and Lowes told us. "If you hit a root or rock, stop the machine and remove the object by hand." Yet this moron thinks we can "cut through" the root? That's not just stupid, that's dangerously stupid!

Our experienced post-hole diggers (as opposed to random freelance writers) suggest the following possible solutions to the dilemma:

Cut smallish roots on both sides of the hole with loppers or pruners Dig out some working room and cut larger roots with a reciprocating saw. Use a large-diameter drill bit to cut a series of holes across the root and connect them with a saw. Pound the sucker out with a rock bar (use a grinder to sharpen the chisel end) If all else fails, move the post hole (not always an option of you're using fence panels). On the other hand, if you want to be like our Dumbass of the Day and, more to the point, get a broken arm, feel free to try to drill through it with a power auger...

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DDIY - POWER TOOLS