Cleaning Out the Pole Holes

Just when you think you're ready to install your poles it becomes the wettest Spring on record. The constant rains washed dirt back into the holes and, due to the high water table, water was standing in the holes. We need to get this water out and remove all the muck before we can drop in our poles. This is one good reason to treat the poles.... they will be in contact with moisture.

Here is a hole right after it was dug earlier in the year.

Here it is after the rains.

Here's how it's done. Get out your dirty water pump and get to work.

Once you get the water out you're halfway there. Next you need to get out the post hole shovel and dig out all the muck. This might have been the hardest work of the trellis building operation. Lifting loose wet muddy muck out of a 4 foot hole is not something you want to experience. Only about 25% of the holes had water standing in them. The higher ground was pretty good, although, they all had the muck to remove... ugh.