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There are plenty of tools available for use in the garden. But one of the largest is an auger, which appears as a rounded spiral, like a screw, and is often attached to a drill. So, what is an auger used for in gardening?
An auger is used to dig holes. Most commonly, it’s used for planting seeds or seedlings. But with a larger auger, you might be able to use it to plant a tree. Sometimes, it can be used for weeding, breaking up the soil so you can remove the roots.
When used properly, an auger will have plenty of uses in the garden. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways you can put this tool to use.
Types of Auger
There are a few sizes of auger. This will depend on what you want to use it for. Some of the most common types of augers include:
- Plant augers. These are small drilling implements, which are ideal for putting in seedlings.
- Tree augers. These are larger and will often need to be held by two people. These will create a larger hole, suitable for a more established tree. You can also use this type of auger for things like installing fence posts.
- Drilling bits. At the upper end of the range, you can get a drilling bit. This is useful for digging deep holes in the ground. For example, it will allow you to put in irrigation pipes. These come on the back of trucks and will be operated by experienced professionals. As a home gardener, you don’t need to worry about this type of equipment.
Benefits of Using an Auger
There are many reasons why a gardener might want to use an auger
including:
- Ease of digging. An auger is an ideal tool to use in rocky or compacted soil. You can use the machine to do all the hard work. Because of this, it should only take a few seconds to dig the hole.
- Dig standing up. For some gardeners, it can be difficult to dig holes manually. An auger solves this problem. Most will come with a long drilling attachment, so they can reach the ground without needing to bend over. This can help save a lot of back problems.
- Uniform hole size. When you are using an auger, each of the holes will be the same size.
- Versatile tool. The auger can be used for a wide range of plants. If you want a different hole size, you just need to remove the auger from the drill and attach the new head.
- Breaks up the soil. As you are removing soil, the auger will be breaking it up. This loose soil will be a lot easier to backfill.
- Makes weeding easy. One of the most novel ways of using the auger is to make weeding easier. In this case, you can use it to break up the soil around the weeds. Looser soil will make removing the weeds by the root easier, so they won’t be able to grow again.
- Water management. You can use your auger to help you dig a trench, so you can channel water around your garden.
Can I Use an Auger to Plant Trees?
Many of us are familiar with using an auger to plant seedlings. But you might be able to use this to plant trees. Before you do this, there are a few pros and cons to consider.
The biggest advantage is how easy it is to use. You should be able to dig the hole for your tree within a few hours. If you were digging by hand, it can take a long time to go deep enough. This is particularly problematic if you have thicker soils. Having a uniform width will also make it easier to plant the tree.
This technology can be a good way of reducing the costs associated with putting in the tree. Less time digging means lower labor costs.
But there are also a few downsides to consider. Sometimes, if you are digging in dry soils, there is a risk that it could glaze. This is what happens when the soil loses too much moisture. In effect, this creates a thick wall that water and nutrients can’t penetrate. This will be around the roots of your plants.
This is most common in clay soils. Thankfully, there is an easy way for you to solve this problem. You will need to dig out a portion of the hole by hand. In this case, make the hole slightly shallower and narrower than you need. Then, you will be able to widen it by hand, this should stop the soil from glazing. It’s also important to make sure that you are adding plenty of water when you plant the trees.
How to Use an Auger to Plant Trees
If you want to use an auger to plant out the tree, there are a few steps that you will follow:
- Decide where you want to drill your hole. Like all plantings, this should be based on the type of tree that you want to put in. It’s also important to think about what else is in the area. You don’t want to put it too close to existing trees. This can risk drilling through roots.
- Dig out a small area. Once you know where you want to put the tree, you will need to dig out a small area. This will allow the auger to get a grip.
- Break up rocks. Ideally, the auger should slide easily through the ground. But if you are dealing with rocks, you will need to stop drilling and remove the auger. You can then use a steel rod or shovel to break up the rocks and hard ground. You might need to do this a few times when installing the tree.
- Decide how deep you want the hole to be. You don’t want the whole tree to fit into the hole. It’s usually best to leave a few inches of root ball exposed.
- Manually dig around the side of the hole. Glazing can be a big risk, particularly in dense soils. To make sure that this doesn’t happen, you will need to rough up the sides of the hole a little using a shovel.
- Add the tree. Finally, it’s time to put the tree into the hole. Before you do this, you want to make sure that you remove any burlap sacks or non-biodegradable packing materials. This will make it easier for the roots to absorb nutrients from the soil. Don’t forget to give the tree plenty of water.
It should be noted that much of these steps can be used when you are using an auger to install seedings in your garden.
Caring for Your Auger
The auger can be an expensive tool, so you want to make sure that you are caring for it properly. You should make sure that you have cleaned off any dirt. Then, apply a thin layer of oil to the blade. Most models will come with a blade guard. This will stop it from getting covered in dust. If you have a larger fuel-powered auger, you will need to leave a quarter of a tank of gas. To prevent the gas pressure from building up, run it for a few minutes every six months.
Final Thoughts
An auger is one of the most versatile tools in your garden. While most people know it can be used to make holes for seedlings or seeds, it can do far more than that. You can get a larger one and use it to dig holes for trees. It can also be used to aid with weeding or digging trenches. Because of this, an auger is a useful tool for any avid gardener.