Power Planter Auger Guide
Find the right auger for your project with our Auger Guide.
Welcome to the ultimate guide for all your auger questions! Whether you’re a lifelong gardener, a firstgardener a first time homeowner, or just love playing in the dirt, we have everything you need to help you choose the right earth auger for your next project.or new to the world of earth augers, we have all the information you need to choose the right auger for your next project. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most commonly asked questions about earth augers. So sit back, relax, and let us answer all your auger questions.
1. What Is an Earth Auger?
An earth auger is a simple yet powerful tool designed to help you efficiently bore holes in the ground. With a rotating helical screw blade, called flighting, the auger cuts through soil and lifts it up and out of the hole.
Power Planter drill augers come in different dimensions to tackle any task – from planting bulbs to digging fence post holes. Just attach the auger to a cordless drill and you can effortlessly dig holes in nearly all soil conditions.
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2. What Size Auger Do I Need?
Earth augers come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some are general purpose, while others are more for specialized jobs. Pick the right tool for your landscape project with our auger sizing page or take our product quiz to match an auger with your needs.
Power Planter’s most popular auger is the 3-inch by 24-inch Extended Length Bulb Auger. This tool lets you dig small holes without completely bending over for back-saving comfort. It alsohas the strength and durability to dig much deeper and wider holes in tough soil conditions, with a standard cordless drill.
For larger or deeper holes, landscapers often dig two or more holes side by side to make a hole wide enough for large posts. You may need a heavy-duty auger to dig a larger hole in one go as they can cut through more soil than smaller bulb augers.
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3. How Do I Use an Auger?
Power Planter’s augers are simple to use. All of our augers are made with a hex head that fits most standard drill chucks. To use an auger, simply fit the hex head to a cordless drill, set the drill speed to its lowest setting (maximum torque), and adjust the chuck to a resistance setting appropriate for your fitness level.
Place the auger’s tip into the ground and activate the drill or powerhead. If you have a Stihl BT45 power unit then you’ll need to purchase our 4-inch or larger heavy-duty auger and leave a note at checkout that you have a BT45, so we can send you a threaded adapter that’s made to fit your unit.
Make sure to keep the auger vertical as it drills and be prepared — the drill may try to kick back in your hand slightly as the auger starts to bite into the soil, but modern drills have a clutch that will prevent the drill from spinning through the resistance. Once the auger is digging, there is no need to push downward aggressively on it. Just let the auger dig until you’ve reached the desired depth. Then, you can safely remove the tool from the hole.
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4. How Much Power Do I Need?
It’s important to make sure you have the proper drill or power engine for your Power Planter® auger and your project. We recommend a minimum power rating of 18V for most gardening tasks, though an 18V/20V drill will work with our 7-inch to 12-inch augers when planting in light soil.
For augers 4 inches or wider or digging holes deeper than 12 inches in hard soil, we generally recommend 20V to 60V drills. Learn how much drill power you will need in our power guide by clicking the link below.
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5. What Types of Augers Are Available?
At Power Planter, you’ll find a wide range of augers up to the task of many different garden and landscaping projects. Here’s an overview of the types of augers we carry, and what you can do with them:
2- to 3-Inch Augers: These garden augers come in a range of lengths, from 7 inches to 48 inches. They are perfect for planting bulbs, grass plugs, annual and vegetable plugs, and even small potted plants, and the variety of lengths allow you to use them while standing. Extra long augers also have special uses such as digging irrigation, fertilizing trees, or digging under roads or sidewalks.
4- to 7-Inch Augers: If you do a lot of landscaping, then these augers are ideal. Use augers of this size to dig holes for quart- or gallon-sized plants, small trees, and shrubs, or even use them to dig smaller post holes. We also have these augers available in both home gardener as well as professional landscaper or ground maintenance models.
8- to 9-Inch Augers: All augers in this range are heavy-duty and suitable as post hole diggers. They excel in planting 2-gallon or larger landscape plants and digging large, uniform holes for fences or mailbox posts set in concrete.
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6. How Do I Choose the Right Auger?
To select the right auger, consider your intended use. A 2- or 3-inch auger is sufficient for planting smaller items like plugs and bulbs. For burying stakes, setting small posts, or planting larger shrubs, opt for a 4-inch or larger auger.
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Consider the length of the auger for comfort and efficiency. Shorter augers require kneeling to dig, while augers 24 inches or longer allow for standing use, reducing back strain. For extra comfort, consider a longer auger or a heavy duty extension.
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When it comes to gardening tools, the quality of the product can significantly impact the efficiency and ease of your work. Earth augers are no exception. This page will provide a detailed comparison between Power Planter augers and cheap competitor products, highlighting the key differences that make Power Planter a superior choice.
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7. Why Power Planter?
Power Planter earth augers are made from quality materials and hand-welded right here in the USA. Because of our commitment to quality, we include an unconditional guarantee on all our parts, materials, and craftsmanship. The only exception is normal wear and tear. Our augers are built to last, unlike imitators that use cheap materials and shoddy workmanship to cut costs, resulting in an inferior product. Power Planter augers are not products that need to be replaced every season, they stand the test of time year after year. If properly used, stored, and maintained, a Power Planter earth auger can last you a lifetime.
Need More Help?
Power Planter augers can accomplish a variety of tasks — from helping you get your bedding plants in the ground come springtime to drilling through ice in the heart of winter. If you have more questions about our products or how to select the right auger, feel free to use our auger guide or contact us for assistance.
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