Replacing posts that rot at their base

[IFG]

I have had my posts in for about 12 years. Treated wood 6X6’s. I had expected them to last longer than this, but my soil is very wet. A few have snapped off at the base. I have woven wire attached, so it is not an emergency to replace, but I need to do it. I have driven metal sister posts on a few and lashed them to the broken wooden post with baling twine. So…is it unusual for the posts to have died in 12 years? What is the best way to go about replacing them. How do you remove a stump. When we put them in, our soil was so rocky that we used a back hoe to dig the holes, put in the posts and back-filled with stone dust. Of course, with the woven wire up (and really no place else to put the horses, and the other side of the fence obscured by trees, a back hoe can no longer get to the posts, so we need to do this by hand.

Yes, we should have considered that this would happen, but we were (are?) stupid.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Not stupid. Is your soil clay (under the top layer, say further down)?

[SuzieQNutter]

Put in a temporary electric fence to remove the horses and use any equipment you like.

Cement in steel posts, preferably steel railway line. Hubby has done this in our cattle yard. The rails are still wood.

[Bluey]

How many posts are you talking about?

Consider pounding wood or pipe post in, maybe between wooden post?
That would not take very long.
You could even shoo the horses away from the action.
Or could you tie the horses up for the time that a pickup with posts and skid loader with post pounder would be in there?

[IFG]

I have a small paddock, it is L shaped, but about 130’X90’. I have the posts in about every 10 feet. I think that in between the rocks, it is mostly clay (we did soil cores when we were getting wetlands approvals). The problem is the no-climb is on the inside of the posts, and other side has a heavily vegetated dirt and rock berm. We might be able to pound posts next to the posts we have or get in there with a fence post digger. Right now, I have about 6 I need to replace.

[IFG]

I have the horses in an in and out situation with stalls, but my old horse gets very upset when he is locked in his stall. Then his ulcers act up.

[Bluey]

For just 6 posts, you can use an phd to replace them, by hand.
Will take a bit, but easier than trying to get anything there for just 6 posts, maybe?

Phd, post hole digger, everyone around here has one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Razor-Back-48-in-Fiberglass-Handle-Post-Hole-Digger-78006/100163896

Ours has metal handles, the old one thicker wooden ones.

[IFG]

@Bluey

For just 6 posts, you can use an phd to replace them, by hand.
Will take a bit, but easier than trying to get anything there for just 6 posts, maybe?

Phd, post hole digger, everyone around here has one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Razor-Back-48-in-Fiberglass-Handle-Post-Hole-Digger-78006/100163896

Ours has metal handles, the old one thicker wooden ones.

Thanks. So do not bother removing the old posts, right? Will be back for marriage counseling if it does not go well ;).

[SuzieQNutter]

You can put the electric fence up so as it just stops them getting into the workplace. There is no need to change where they are now. Just hold them while the equipment is put in place.

[gothedistance]

Ugh. I do NOT envy you the job of replacing those posts. 12 years is about average for any pine lumber product, even treated, which is why locust posts are used for long term post and rail fencing. Many of my locust posts have lasted 30 years and are still going strong. Some, in the wet areas, only lasted 20-25 years. Anything I have put in the ground made of pine is good for only 10 years. 15 tops.

To get those 6x6s out of the ground, you’ll have to dig the stone dust out and away from the stump with a post hole digger and an iron digging bar. Once you’re removed enough material from around the stump so that you can get enough grip on the stump to start rocking it side to side to loosen the stump, you will find it easier to remove completely.

Pack the new posts in dirt, rather than stone dust.

[S1969]

I have a couple of locust posts that need replacing in heavy clay after about 10 years. I’m discouraged but not surprised. It’s a strange type of soil and is looser/heavier in different areas.

I agree that a metal t-post can be used until you really have to replace them. I’ve replaced a couple with a PTO auger but it is a pain in the neck.

[IFG]

@gothedistance

Ugh. I do NOT envy you the job of replacing those posts. 12 years is about average for any pine lumber product, even treated, which is why locust posts are used for long term post and rail fencing. Many of my locust posts have lasted 30 years and are still going strong. Some, in the wet areas, only lasted 20-25 years. Anything I have put in the ground made of pine is good for only 10 years. 15 tops.

To get those 6x6s out of the ground, you’ll have to dig the stone dust out and away from the stump with a post hole digger and an iron digging bar. Once you’re removed enough material from around the stump so that you can get enough grip on the stump to start rocking it side to side to loosen the stump, you will find it easier to remove completely.

Pack the new posts in dirt, rather than stone dust.

Not to sound stupid, but where do you buy locust posts? Also, when you say “dirt”, what do you ask for at the quarry?

[ShotenStar]

We have about one mile of split rail. All the original posts, installed 30 years ago, were locust. Almost all of them are still in place, except for a few spots near tree lines and/or run-off zones. Some of those we have replaced 2-3 times. We always dig out the remains of the old post stump, usually by hand with a manual post hole digger, before installing the new post. Since this is all split rail, the spacing between posts matters for all the rails to fit.

star

[seabreeze]

@IFG

Not to sound stupid, but where do you buy locust posts? Also, when you say “dirt”, what do you ask for at the quarry?

Most hardware/lumber places have locust posts. They’re more expensive, but they last much longer. You shouldn’t have to buy anything at the quarry. When you dig the hole and remove the dirt with the post hole digger, use the dirt you removed to pack back in around the post.

[IFG]

Will keep you all posted on our progress. The collective wisdom of the COTH has been SO important to managing my horses at home. I cannot thank you all enough. Some of you have been helping since we first planned to bring the old horse home. Thank you again!