How to Install Field Fence T-Posts

Steel T-posts are popular for line posts.

Field fence (or woven wire) provides a versatile fencing option for enclosing livestock in permanent pastures and keeping animal pests from your garden. The sheer weight of heavy-duty field fence requires that you use wooden posts for the corner posts and bracing structures, but steel T-posts provide a popular option for line posts. According to the University of Missouri Cooperative Extension, advantages of steel T-posts over traditional wooden posts include increased durability and quicker installation. Make sure your corner posts and bracing assemblies are completely installed before you begin putting in your field fence T-posts.

Things You'll Need

• Twine
• Tape measure
• Spray paint
• Steel T-posts
• Hand-held post driver
• Work gloves

Instructions

1. Stretch a guide string between the wooden corner posts to mark the fence line for your T-post installation. Tie the end of a piece of heavy-duty twine to the nearest corner post and let the twine fall on the ground behind you as you walk along the fence line to the next corner post. Wrap the twine around the second corner post, pulling it tight so the string runs taut between the two corner posts. Run the twine to the remaining corner posts in the same fashion. Tie the twine off on itself with a double knot when you return to the first corner post.

2. Mark the ground along the guide string with a can of ground-marking paint, painting spots at 12-foot intervals. Position the base of the T-post at the spray-painted location on the outside edge of the guide string. Rotate the T-post in place so the set of evenly spaced notches on the post face the inside of your enclosure.

3. Lower your hand-held post driver over the top of the T-post gently until the inside of the post driver top touches the top of the T-post. Don't pinch your fingers as you lower the driver. Grasp the two handles on the post driver and bring the post driver down firmly on the T-post to hammer the post into the ground. Be sure the flanges at the bottom of the post are well into the soil. Repeat the pounding process several times before removing the post driver and checking visually to ensure that the post is straight in the ground. If not, pull on the post firmly with your hand, using your body weight to straighten the post.

4. Replace the post driver on the top of the T-post. Pound the post with the post driver repeatedly until the bottom 12 to 18 inches of the post are solidly embedded into the ground. Remove the post driver from the top of the T-post and get another T-post for the next post location.

5. Repeat the entire installation process for each field fence T-post.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear heavy-duty work gloves to minimize chafing and cuts on your hands during post driving.

• Never have another person hold the T-post for you during installation. Doing so may cause injury if the post driver hits your helper's hand.

References

• University of Missouri Cooperative Extension: Selecting Wire Fencing Materials
• "The Fence Bible"; Jeff Beneke; 2005