Q: Should I use concrete to set a fence post?
A: Concrete will certainly work to set a fence post, but you should rest the end of
the post first on a bed of crushed gravel to allow drainage at the bottom of the post before you add the concrete. As the post expands and contracts it will loosen from the surrounding concrete and allow water to seep inside. Therefore, the post will need a drainage path so it doesn’t sit in standing water. The problem with concrete is that if you ever need to replace the post, you’ll have to deal with the heavy hardened mass buried at its base. An alternative to concrete is to use firmly compacted gravel around the buried post base, which allows ample drainage and is easier to remove if the post ever needs replacing.
