Hammock posts not staying put

m33r4

The idea was to sink three, 10 feet tall, 4” X 4” fence posts, in a triangle shape 12 feet apart. The plan was to hang 2 hammocks off the posts.

So for each post, we use a post borer and dug a 6” diameter, 2 foot deep hole, in the base of which we dropped 2 cms high pea gravel followed by the post. Following the postcrete instructions, we filled the hole a third with water, immediately followed by a bag of dry postcrete. After a couple of days letting the postcrete set, we tied a hammock between the 2 posts using hammock straps. The problem is, the posts started inclining inwards towards the centre. The postcrete has since cracked and the posts are trying to make their way out of the ground.

Any ideas on how can we resolve this problem please? Ideally we want to avoid digging deeper than 2 feet due to the risk of hitting drainage pipes:

Should we replacing the postcrete with concrete instead for better strength?

Should we widen the holes and use “packing” in the hole before setting the post in?

Should we use a supporting beam in between each post?

ukjoel

I think its the 6 inch diameter hole thats the problem.

Bearing in mind you have 4 inches of post thats not a lot of postcrete (or concrete) around each post so the anchor you need isnt there.

I would be going 6-8 inches for a washing line spike buried in the ground and for a couple of hammocks with heavy people on them probably a square foot.

I think your depth sounds ok.

I have done something similar but used 4 inch by 8 inch sleepers and that worked ok.

m33r4

ukjoel wrote: »

.....
I have done something similar but used 4 inch by 8 inch sleepers and that worked ok.

How high off the ground is your hammock?
How tall above ground is the sleeper?
How deep into the ground did you sink the sleeper?
What sort of concrete did you use?


Many thanks.

Kiran

How high are the posts, can you join the tops of the posts to connect them together. This will make them a much more stable. Failing that, connect them at low level however this will be less stable.

casper_g

This site (https://www.hammocks.co.uk/hanging-a-hammock.htm) recommends embedding a post by 3 feet, though my personal expectation would be that 2 feet would be adequate.