On 22 Apr, 10:04, "R" wrote:
"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message

...

Not being a madly expert DIYer can anyone tell me the best way to put in
post and rail fencing so I can train clematis and possibly Chaenemole
along the length. It has to be in two 6 foot lengths or thereabouts with a
gap in the middle so I can access the path from the lawn.

I know how to put in 4x4 stuff using metposts but there aren't any round
alternatives to metposts.

Do I dig a hole first and then shove the post in or backfill with bits of
stone etc like the post for the washing line? Posts will be about 6 foot
above the ground, so how much needs to be below?

1 Treat timber 18" from bottom with creosote or the like and allow to
dry.
2 Dig 18" deep hole a spade size wide square hole for each post, add a
few pebbles to bottom.
3 Put post in hole and lightly nail a piece of timber to each side at
around 45 degrees to support in upright position, like a TeePee shape.
4 Using 6 to 1 ballast/cement mix, mix up to a stiff mix (Like a cake
mix) and pour into hole leaving 2" from top local ground area level. Cover
with polythene if rain expected.
5 Wait to set (2/3 days)
6 Carefully remove the support timbers and backfill over top of cement
bases with sieved soil.
7 Seed area with grass seed or wait for it to infiltrate.
Voila!

When fixing the rails to the posts mark the rails and drill through using a
drill slightly larger that the screw used to fix it onto the post and screw
it on. That way if you need to take it apart for any reason it will be
easier and allow it to be put back up again.

For a couple of hundred metres you'd use a post ramming attachment on a
tractor, loads of nails, 2 men and lots of Coffee or Tea....Plus bacon
butties ;-)

Good advice BUT if you are going to put the post 18 inches into the
ground then the preservative needs to be on at least 24 inches of
post. Posts almost always rot at ground level and not underground
where the wet and the air can work together.
If the frames are only going to be 6ft wide then why not make them up
before fixing the posts in the ground, then put up as one piece.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries