Build A Fence Without Any Digging With A Clever Amazon Product

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If you check out any list of tips for building the perfect fence, you'll almost invariably come across instructions for how big and how deep to dig each post hole and how to add concrete to make sure they are secure. It's good advice, but it's a lot of work. The LADECH No-Dig 4x4 Ground Spike Post Anchor, available from Amazon, is a clever solution that claims to be much quicker and easier. So let's take a closer look.

Each post anchor is made from steel with a powder-coated finish to protect it from rust. The socket on top is designed to accept standard 4x4 wood posts or construction lumber. A central spike is driven into the ground, using a short piece of post and a hammer. There are numerous similar examples around, but where the LADECH differs is that there is an additional long fixing screw at each corner to increase grip and help resist leaning. Once the anchor is in the ground, the post is simply inserted and screwed into place.

All hardware, including hex adapters for a power drill, is included. LADECH post anchors are currently $45.98 each, but if you buy the pack of four for $119.98, they come out to around $30 per post anchor. In addition to building fences, the LADECH no-dig post anchors can be used in the construction of a variety of garden structures like decks and playhouses or to support a mailbox.

There isn't a lot of customer feedback on Amazon (which may indicate that these are fairly new), but the majority of buyers appear happy with them. Ease of use is a key point. Whether they are right for your project will depend on the style of fence your home needs.

The accepted rule for securing fence posts is that a third of the total height should be in the ground. The spike of the LADECH post anchor is 16 inches long, so following expert advice, you should only use a fence post 32 inches tall. That's enough for a knee-high picket fence, but not much more. In practice, they should be fine for open-style fences like post and rail or chain link if they are spaced no more than six feet apart. Even with the additional corner spikes, they probably won't have a firm enough grip in the ground to support solid boarded fencing; a strong wind could just pull them out. You might also want to avoid them if you have sandy soil where they'll have less grip.

The right type of fencing can boost curb appeal, and the LADECH 4x4 No Dig Ground Spike Post Anchors could help you do the job faster and with less effort. However, it's important to consider the size of the fence, soil conditions, and prevailing wind. Sometimes, digging a hole and setting a post in concrete is still the best solution.