power auger

Power Augers

To dig holes quickly, rent a power auger. If you must dig holes by yourself and want to avoid the work required of a clamshell posthole digger (see Digging Postholes, Related Projects), use this one-person unit. You'll need a trailer hitch to haul it home.

hand-held power auger

Two-person motorized augers take a lot of muscle power to control. Be sure to get thorough instructions when you rent the machine. Be braced for hitting roots and rocks. As you work, you'll need to lift out the unit to occasionally clear the auger.

trailer-mounted auger

This hydraulic-powered unit offers maximum boring power with minimum wear and tear on the operator. To ease the auger into the earth, you simply turn a steering-wheel-like mechanism. The unit bears the brunt of the strain of lifting and lowering.