This blog post will provide information on how to stop soil going under fences. This can happen when the fence is not well built and gaps between boards, allowing the soil to fall through. Dirt should never be allowed to contact the wood of the board because it will cause rot, making it weaker over time.
It also makes maintaining your fence difficult since you have dirt getting stuck in between boards that need sanding down or replaced altogether. If you take the time to learn how to stop soil from going under fences, it will save you a lot of money and time in the long run.
Step to Follow on How to Stop Soil Going Under Fence
Step One: Determine
First, you must determine what is causing the soil to go under the fence. This can be done by inserting a small metal rod, such as a screwdriver, between the soil and the bottom of the fence post. If it is dirt that has pushed up against the fence, you will easily be able to push your hand through it.
However, if it is a root that has caused this problem, you will not be able to push your hand through the soil easily. If you cannot see anything with your bare eyes, try using a small stick to poke around between the soil and the bottom of the fence post to determine what is causing this issue.
Step Two: Drill
After determining that it is dirt that has pushed up against the fence, you must drill holes in the bottom of the fence post to relieve some of the pressure. The holes should be shot on both sides of the fence post about two feet above ground level.
Make sure to drill deep enough to below ground level, but not so deep that you plunge into the root. Make sure to drill about ten inches away from the fence post on both sides. It would be best to have a friend to help with this step, as it is difficult to do by yourself.
Step Three: Fixing Structure of Fence
After drilling holes, then you must fill them in with dirt. You should then take a long stick and push it into the hole from above, removing most of it from below. Then pour gravel inside of the hole, filling it up about an inch deep. After that is done, cover this section with dirt once more.
Using a stick to go directly through the hole from below is a great way to remove soil from the inside of the hole, but it works best if you have some kind of tool with a long handle to do the same through the ground above. If this is not available, you can always use some flexible rod to attach to the end of a long pole or section of pipe.
Step Four: Fixing Fence
Finally, after you have done all of the previous steps, you must repair the fence itself. The easiest way to do this is to hammer in some metal ground stakes at four-foot intervals on both sides of the fence post. The ground stakes should be placed right next to the bottom of the fence post, where the soil has pushed up against it.
Make sure to do this about three inches away from the fence post. With these stakes in place, you can attach a substantial piece of wire or nylon string tightly across the bottom of the fence post, and it should hold everything in place and keep dirt and roots from pushing up against it anymore.
Step Five: Monitoring
After doing all of this, you must check the fence every two weeks to make sure that it is holding. If you find dirt accumulating against the fence again, then you must go through the steps above and add more stakes or add another layer of wire to keep it from pushing up against the bottom of your fence posts.
In conclusion, if you must replace your fence entirely, you should probably replace your fence posts as well. If the dirt has pushed up against a post or two and not others, then it would be a good idea to dig them up and fill them with gravel as well before re-burying them.
Step Six: In the Absence of a Fence
If you do not have a fence but still want to prevent soil from pushing up against your house or other structures, you must take the same steps above. Unfortunately, this means digging a ditch around the house and burying a strip of metal fencing in it.
However, this has one drawback: if any trees grow near your house, they could easily damage the fencing and cause it to no longer keep soil from pushing up against your structure. These steps should help you in learning how to stop soil going under fence.
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Step Seven: Reducing Pressure
If somehow, after all of these steps, you can still stop the soil from pushing up against your structure, then there are other options available to you. You can hire a professional who will use heavy equipment to replace the dirt pushed up against your fence or structure with new soil.
This may work in some instances where you already have a fence or hedge, but there is not enough dirt around it. However, the bottom of your fence posts will likely still be exposed from this option as well. You could also use expanding foam to fill in the soil and keep it away from your structure’s foundation.
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Conclusion
There are many ways of preventing this from happening, but one proven to work on my property is using straw bales around the area where erosion occurs. This method helps significantly because it’s cheap and easy to do while also keeping soil from escaping underneath fences or other structures.
The potential downside with this solution is that some people may find it unsightly if they live near your home. However, the conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to stop soil going under fences.
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