How to Set Postholes for Privacy Fences

Hammer a 3- to 4-foot-tall wooden stake into the ground where one end or corner of the privacy fence will be. Then walk to the other end of the yard where the other end of the fence will be and insert another wooden stake into the ground.

Stretch a string between the two stakes and use a tape measure to draw a line on the ground every 6 to 8 feet using a stick.

Insert additional wooden stakes into the ground at each location where you drew a line. Hammer them in at least 4 to 5 inches until they stand up.

Measure the total length of one of the fence posts and divide the number by three to determine how deep to dig the holes. For example, if the posts are 6 feet long, each hole must be 3 feet deep.

Walk to one of the stakes where a corner of the privacy fence will be. Remove the stake and set it aside. Dig a hole in the location using a post digger tool. Repeat the process down the entire length of the string.

Place two to three shovels of gravel into the bottom of each hole to help with drainage. Insert the poles into the bottom of the holes. Place a level on top of the posts and ensure the air bubble is centered.

Ask another person to hold the post perfectly still while you back fill the hole with soil. Then, hit the soil around the post with a hand tamper tool to pack it down as tightly as possible.

Mix up a batch of concrete in a wheel barrow using the amount of water directed on the package. Place a shovel full of concrete around the base of each post and smooth it out using a trowel so that the mound slopes downward, which reduces water pooling.