Question
Trying to gather information about building a fence.  First should I use concrete or dirt to secure posts? I was at Home Depot looking at cost of concrete and the charts on bag said for 30" post in ground and 4" diameter I'll need 4 bags of mix - seems like alot and can be costly considering I will have about 15 post going in.  Should the post be 30" or 36" underground and will I need that much concrete?  Is tamping dirt a good alternative and if so is there another tool besides a expensive tamper to use to compact dirt? Also can I use a laser level vs post level to ensure posts are aligned properly? Thanks for your feedback.

Answer
Hello Erik, sorry if I couldn't get back to you earlier but its holiday season here.

Ok, To secure fence posts it is essential to use a cement mix (dry or wet) because tamped earth just won't be secure and will eventually rot the posts.

To cut down on the ammount of mix simply mix some larger rocks in with mixture, especially at the base of the hole.The post will be more secure with a hole at a depth of 36".

Once you have erected the first and the last posts simply run a line (string) between the two and forget the laser.

Good luck!

Jonathan www.ecologicagardens.com