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  Jackson's Landscape Design November 8, 2009 at 10:23pm

  I'm afraid its a plain old set of scissor shovels, hand saw and a wrecking bar for me, never failed me yet, always gives me that neat clean hole required.
  
  Have been known on many occasions to be head down and backside up armed with a Bosch kango breaking granite obstacles, this is why the wrecking bar and shovels are my preferred tools, once you've created the flaw in the stone the bar gives you the required leverage to remove.
  
  Only you with have the insight as to the belt of land that lies beneath the top soil in your area, good luck with your choice and projects.
  
  Let us know how you get on with the petrol auger should you decide to go down that route.
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  Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com November 8, 2009 at 11:12pm

  We use the double shovels and pinch bar method too - very quick and expensive equipment doesn't get broken! Two post-holes at once - one man on the pinch in one, one man clearing out the other with the double shovels. But I'd love to get some feedback on the petrol borers...from what I have heard previously they require 2 men anyway and will stop being productive upon meeting some stone...?
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  Kieran Ray November 9, 2009 at 12:06am

  If you are going to get one get the Stihl bt121, its a single man post hole borer but it has guts and can bore a hole out in 30seconds to a minute if you brave. I wouldnt use any other asthe Stihl has a kick back clutch so you dont brake your wrists. Most of the cheaper ones dont.
  
  I would normaly use the spoons method, we use what we affectionatly know as the spear, I beleve it is a fencing bar, it has a chisel on one end and a tamp on the other weights a bit so you can get a good throw on it and also a fencing space, like a border spade but with a 6ft straight metal handle, then spoon out. we only use the post hole auger for larger jobs where the digging would take more than a day.
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  The Perfumed Garden November 9, 2009 at 4:41pm

  I used a petrol auger once and nearly broke my wrist every time it hit a large stone or root and wouldn't use one again. Like everyone else, we normally use hand tools but if its a large job I hire in a skid steer with auger attachments.
  
  

  
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  Kieran Ray November 9, 2009 at 4:44pm

  The Stihl auger combats this by its kick back arm/clutch, it kicks back sgsinst your leg and stops the drive.
  
  The Perfumed Garden said:

  I used a petrol auger once and nearly broke my wrist every time it hit a large stone or root and wouldn't use one again. Like everyone else, we normally use hand tools but if its a large job I hire in a skid steer with auger attachments.
  
  

  
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  Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt November 9, 2009 at 6:41pm

  Well I hired one to see what it was like and it was the stihl bt121. The verdict...?
  
  Waste of time!! Worth a try, but ended up using spade and bar anyway. It may be the answer on more solid ground or if hundreds of holes to dig. Between 2 of us we dug 28 holes and concreted posts among many a supply of coffee in about 4.5hours. Easy ground. Level. Mechanisation definately not necessary. Would have taken a lot longer with the machine.
  
  So there you go. Stick to the shovels, shuv-holers and pinch bars!
  
  Kieran Ray said:

  If you are going to get one get the Stihl bt121, its a single man post hole borer but it has guts and can bore a hole out in 30seconds to a minute if you brave. I wouldnt use any other asthe Stihl has a kick back clutch so you dont brake your wrists. Most of the cheaper ones dont.
  
  I would normaly use the spoons method, we use what we affectionatly know as the spear, I beleve it is a fencing bar, it has a chisel on one end and a tamp on the other weights a bit so you can get a good throw on it and also a fencing space, like a border spade but with a 6ft straight metal handle, then spoon out. we only use the post hole auger for larger jobs where the digging would take more than a day.