Drilling or Boring small holes....

5th · Jun 27, 2013

Howdy folks :tiphat:

Got a late start to my outdoor this year....but I have a plan... :biggrin:

I want to put out a few hundred clones in 4" or 5" containers. right before flowering starts. I've done it in growbags before and the results were definately worth it in my books.

Now theres no way in hell I can collect enough containers by then so I was looking into Fiskars (the brand we know and love) Hand held tilling tool. The problem with this is the earth where I'm growing is the rockiest I've ever seen. I've broken 2 shovels so far and ain't breaking another.

I've my ice fishing auger, but its not sturdy enough for this kind of work....so I'm asking for any insight on what you guys (if any) use to till up really rocky soil. I just need to make alot of small, preferably 12" deep holes.

Any thoughts or ideas on the subject are appreciated. :tiphat:

foomar · Jun 27, 2013

Done an awfull lot of fence post holes by hand in stoney ground , where even a tractor pto auger was useless , aiming for a two foot deep hole of six inch diameter

Best tool is a five foot steel bar , 30 mm diameter or thereabouts , with a 60 degree chisel ground on one end , used by hand or bashed in with a fence post rammer and rocked around to loosen.

A scaffold putluck with a flat blade end works good too , but wont break a large rock as easily.

Pointed curved grafters spade or a fenceing shovel cleans up the hole without expanding it overly wide , unless the rocks are large or granite/flint.

5th · Jun 27, 2013

That is without a doubt, the proper way to go about it. I happen to have two of those bars with the chisel's ground out on there ends. But I ain't as young as I used to be....so pounding them suckers in the ground isn't exactly what I had in mind.

Not that I'm lazy....but 200-300 holes is a hellova lot of holes to pound out.

Thanks for the quick response foomar. :tiphat:

foomar · Jun 27, 2013

Your post prompted me to drag mine out of the shed , its been a while and could hardly lift it let alone use it all day.

Have used a type of log splitter that worked like a post rammer or slide hammer , it was solid enougth to serve both purposes and was easy in use , would make or source similar if faced with hundreds of holes in a brickyard.

5th · Jun 27, 2013

....I've no shortage of hose, fittings, actuators, cylinders, or motors...

The problem is my places are so remote/marsh like/mountainous that it would be damn near impossible to bring in anything equipment oriented to the grow sites...unless it was winter and everything was frozen...

But you've got me thinking for next year...I'll weld up a small frame, small motor and a drill press of some type...

festerous · Jun 27, 2013

Will you be using the native soil or hauling up your own?

Crusader Rabbit · Jun 27, 2013

Sounds like this would be a very hostile environment for root growth.

foomar · Jun 27, 2013

Would knock up a proper solid modified version of this , sized for the job , with a spade blade fitted.

Could almost be a small business makeing these , cant find anything of quality just chinky stuff with bad design faults.

5th · Jun 27, 2013

festerous said:
Will you be using the native soil or hauling up your own?

Hauling

Crusader Rabbit said:
Sounds like this would be a very hostile environment for root growth.

I'm not sure if I follow ya...

The local soil has a PH in the high 6's, I want to excavate a small (4-5" diameter) hole (12-16" deep)...and backfill the hole with my soil mix and a clone. Think of it as mother natures "tree pot"

foomar said:
Would knock up a proper solid modified version of this , sized for the job , with a spade blade fitted.

If it where buillt properly... I'd get 4...maybe 5 holes done before I'd have to put that sonsabitch down and have a rest n' a smoke.

This is what I think I'll be using...might have to get my welder to build it so I don't end up with a broken one in the bush...

Hank Hemp · Jun 27, 2013

What the heck!!!

What the heck!!!

foomar said:
Would knock up a proper solid modified version of this , sized for the job , with a spade blade fitted.

View Image

Could almost be a small business makeing these , cant find anything of quality just chinky stuff with bad design faults.

Is that a hi-tech spud digger?? I seen it all Lord!!! :ying:

MajLeeStoned · Jun 27, 2013

Try a search on Bulb Augers. I have one I use with a cordless drill but its only about 3" in diameter.

Crusader Rabbit · Jun 27, 2013

MajLeeStoned said:
Try a search on Bulb Augers. I have one I use with a cordless drill but its only about 3" in diameter.

My local Ace Hardware has those in the gardening tools section.

JGP · Jun 27, 2013

I would grow in pots instead rather than spend days trying to dig holes in ground like concrete.

5th · Jun 27, 2013

JGP said:
I would grow in pots instead rather than spend days trying to dig holes in ground like concrete.

So would I...believe me.

Lost to many of my outdoor plots 2 years ago because I wanted the "convienience". Thats not happening this year.

As I'm quite certain this particular plot is safe I don't mind putting in the extra work as I'd use it for years to come.

MajLeeStoned said:
Try a search on Bulb Augers. I have one I use with a cordless drill but its only about 3" in diameter.

Thats definately the kinda thing I was looking for thank you. :tiphat:

festerous · Jun 27, 2013

What about planting multiple plants in bags of potting soil?
Like this
http://sell.lulusoso.com/selling-leads/1071304/soilless-culture-bags.html

5th · Jun 27, 2013

festerous said:
What about planting multiple plants in bags of potting soil?

If I did that this year....I'd have soil to ammend and add next season for short, raised beds....excellent idea thanks.

I've got a month to put something to gether so keep 'em coming folks.

foomar · Jun 28, 2013

Some strong and suitable spade designs here .

http://www.terrierman.com/spoons.htm

festerous · Jun 28, 2013

If you have a tractor supply near you there house brand organic soil is only $1.49 a cubic foot and is loaded with perlite.

Sat X RB · Jun 28, 2013

using a crowbar for THAT MANY holes?! maybe if you were 20 years old.

why not get hold of builders membrane ... the stuff that's put under concrete floors to damp proof them. cheap. make pots by cutting squares of the stuff and sitting it in a ring of rocks? let one side down for drainage.

I too have a hostile growing environment (but termites and sponge dry) and this is how I make even large beds.

cheers from Oz!

STUNKY · Jun 28, 2013

If u have access to water u can blast some small holes with a pressure washer.. Ur gonna be making some noise though.

Drilling or Boring small holes....

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