I used a water gun to install posts in Eastern Washington, worked great even in rocky soil, but used to farm almonds in California's central valley with a hardpan layer, no way. Deep ripping with a huge tractor was the only way to bust though it. Perhaps Art's layer isn't as tough, wouldn't hurt to give water a try. If deep ripping is done right about the only rocks it brings up are the ones so big that two ripper shanks hit them at the same time. Otherwise they just get pushed to the side. Best to rip when the soil is at it's driest time of year. That way the hardpan fractures in many directions from the ripper shank, shanks can be spaced further apart. Four foot spacing worked for me. If ripping is done when the hardpan is wet it just slices though it.
Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center Corvallis, Montana ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Frank Carlson [[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 4:58 AM To: 'Apple-Crop' Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: trellis posts Art: You should have mentioned it here Monday, and we could have shown you the water gun we use off the sprayer. Frank From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Arthur Kelly Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:14 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Apple-Crop: trellis posts Does anyone have any experience or suggestions for pounding or setting line posts for a tree support system into hard-pan? We have 24-30 inches of soil and then hard-pan. Some years ago we tried to auger in posts and had great difficulty penetrating the hard-pan. I'm feeling the posts should go in at least 36 inches with 8-9 ft above ground. We have been using Best Angle stakes but I'm hearing they aren't that long lived due to rust and bending. Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, ME -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
