Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Steel posts cost less, weigh less, and don't burn in case of grass fire. They don't require
a hole to be dug or drilled; they are set by driving them into the ground with a manual or
tractor-driven post driver. They can help ground a fence against lightning, especially when
the soil is moist. Steel T-posts are available in 6-inch increments from 5 to 8 feet. Gener-
ally, they are set about 1½ feet into the ground, just so the flange is below the surface of
the ground. Metal fence posts are not as strong or stable as wooden posts, so it is best to
add wooden posts to the line fence every 60 feet or so (closer in soft, wet, or sandy soil) to
maintain the integrity of the fence.
Posts for electric fencing can be wood or steel (which require insulators) or PVC or fiber-
glass (which do not require insulators).
When setting posts, be very certain that the line for the fence is absolutely straight; if not,
it will cause you repeated problems both in the attachment of the fencing and with future
maintenance. Set the end posts first and then stretch a carpenter's building line between
them to set up the line for the intermediate posts. If you are using roll fencing, such as wire
or tape, unroll it between the end posts to make a straight line. You can make an exception
to straight lines with electric fencing, which can be installed in a curve.
Notching the vertical post to accept the horizontal brace post makes a more secure
corner.
