FENCE PANELS

Put at least 600mm (2 foot) of the post in the ground, or a third of the height that's above ground, whichever is more.Sofor a standard 6-foot fence, dig your holes around 600 to 750mm deep.It'sthe depth of the posts that keeps a fence standing through winter winds, sodon'tskimp here.

Space your posts to match your panel width, which for standard 6-foot panels means posts about 1.83 metres apart. Set and fix each post to the actual panel as you go, rather than digging all the holes first, sosmall differencesdon'tadd up along the run. Slot-in concrete posts make this easy, as the panels just drop between them.

Dig a hole about 600mm deep, drop a bit of gravel in the bottom for drainage, then stand the post in and checkit'supright both ways with a level. Prop it steady, pour inpostmixor concrete, and slope the top off so water runs away from the post. Let it go off properly before you hang thepanels, andset each post to the panel as you work along.

Yes, you can, using a hammer drill and a masonry bit. Take it steady, and if you hit the steel reinforcing inside, just move along a touch rather than forcing it.It'show most people fix trellis or brackets onto concrete posts.

With slot-in concrete posts, the panel just slides down into the channel between two posts, sothere'snothing to fix. With flat posts, use fence clips or brackets screwed on. Either way, sit the panel on a concrete gravel board rather than straight on the soil, so the wood stays out of the wet and lasts longer.