23 Reader Tips That Save Time and Money

Before setting a metal post into hard ground, give the soil a good soaking. Attach a piece of 1½-inch copper pipe to a garden hose, turn on the water, and push the pipe into the spot where you want to set the post. When the ground is saturated, remove the pipe and pound in the post with a small sledge.

—Mark Sheidler
Swanton, Ohio