TIL gravel saves fence posts from rot

I used to skip gravel to save time and money. A bad season showed me posts rotting where water collected. Now I always add gravel for drainage. It's a small effort that pays off big time.

4 comments

4 Comments

parker_smith1mo ago

Rough way to learn that lesson, huh? Makes you kick yourself for skipping it, but now you know. That's that "why didn't I do this sooner" feeling.

jenniferhill1mo ago

That's a solid tip about gravel. I've noticed posts set without it often wobble or decay within a few seasons. Using crushed rock instead of smooth stones helps water drain faster. Do you mix in any sand or just use straight gravel?

phoenixwest1mo ago

Back in Texas, we always mixed coarse gravel with a bit of sand for drainage. That combo kept my fence standing through heavy rains.

paul871mo ago

Oh man, that "why didn't I do this sooner" feeling is too real. I learned the hard way too, my first fence looked like a drunk line dance after one storm. I mean, you see the bag of gravel and think it's an extra step, but it's really the only step that matters. Now I just assume any post hole without gravel is secretly hoping to become a swimming pool.