HDPE & Frost Heave

[altterrain]

It's a one man Badger auger than I use for work. I have 2 and 6 inch bits for it. I use the 2 inch for planting bulbs and hundreds of little groundcover plants -

http://www.amleo.com/index/item.cgi?cmd=view&Words=3048 

 

-Brian 

 

[Don H]

Brian,

  Where did you find a 2" auger? The smallest I could find was 3". It wasn't really a auger it was to chain up a dog.   

 

[altterrain]

Just dig your holes a little deeper and use a back fill of gravel instead of soil. That should reduce the problems associated with frost heave. My soil rarely freezes more that a few inches but we do get many freeze/thaw cycles during the winter which can be worse.

A small power auger with a 2 inch bit (like I used in the link in other post) will dig those holes lickety split.

-Brian 

[Don H]

Just got done rebuilding my layout. Used the ladder method I ran my poles down 24". I drill a 3" hole 20" deep, drove the pipe in another 4", then back filled. 

[ttrigg]

Skippy:

Since I live in sunny SoCal, and have a frost line of about zero, I have no experience with your issue.  That said, I do agree with you that the article is in error.  Everything I've read has emphasized the point of getting below the frost line.  Lets see if someone in your climate zone will speak up.

[skippygp123]

I have checked the Family Garden Trains website and have read the article about using HDPE for supporting the track.  What I'm concerned about is frost heave.  I live in northwestern Wisconsin and the article said not to pound the vertical supports below the frost level.  I don't understand how that keeps the track from heaving due to the contraction of the soil.  Can anyone help me figure this out?

I plan to start building my garden railroad within the next 2 weeks and don't want to make a bunch of errors that I'm going to have to correct.

Thanks!