If you have a tractor, one of the attachments I'd recommend purchasing, especially if you're in a rocky area like I am, is a post hole digger, also called a "post auger" or just "auger". I use mine a lot for fence repair, planting trees and burying dead animals. It's hard to dig a hole by hand where I live so having a three point PTO driven post hole digger is a real labor saver.

I grew up on an orchard and if you're having to plant a lot of trees, this is the tool to own. My father and I had a mild disagreement about whether to buy a post hole digger or not. He always dug all the tree holes by hand because he felt it was easier for the roots to expand when planted that way. One year he had a medical situation and we had 144 trees that needed to be planted. I went and bought a post hole digger (the one in the video) and from that point forward, every tree planted was done using that attachment. It is truly one of my favorite implements.

If you're buying a post hole digger, there are a few options to think about. The first thing you'll want to decide is how large an auger to get and I recommend getting more than one. Most common, at least in my area, is a 12" auger, I own both that size and a 9" auger for smaller jobs. A 12" auger is great for planting a tree, most bare rooted or "balled and burlapped" trees require a big hole. If building fence, consider a 9" auger. Pipe fences may only require a 6" auger. You want the auger to be only slightly bigger than the post so there's less filling in and compacting.

A very handy option is a positioning rod. As the auger is dropped to the ground, the tip moves backwards, around the radius of the three point. It makes it real hard to get the tip right where you want it. A positioning rod goes from the top of the gearbox to the tractor seat and allows you to pinpoint where the auger tip goes in the ground.

Another option is hydraulic down pressure. A lot of folks don't realize it, but your three point has hydraulic lift, but all that pushes it down is gravity (except on a very few older IH tractors). In tough digging, the auger could just turn on top of the ground and hydraulic down pressure may help get it started and help you successfully dig the hole. Hydraulic down pressure does require remote hydraulic connections on the back of the tractor, something many compact tractor owners don't have.

The only maintenance to a PHD is to check the gearbox oil and grease the PTO. If you buy an older post hole digger and it won't go in the ground, it may be a dull point or tip. Most of those are replaceable, slap a replacement tip in it and it may dig like a new machine.

If you have a sub compact tractor, make sure you check how wide the three point arms open and how high it will lift before buying a standard post auger. Most of the sub compacts require a special post hole digger with a narrower frame with a shorter auger to work properly.

If you'd like a good intermediate post hole digger with positioning rod standard, check out the Worksaver Model 500 on my website here: https://asktractormike.com/product/wo.... For sub compact owners the Worksaver Model 300 is a great choice here: https://asktractormike.com/product/wo....

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