6 Best Hand Augers For Digging Holes For Planting Hedges That Save Your Back
Planting hedges? A hand auger saves your back. We review the 6 best models for digging uniform holes efficiently and with less strain than a shovel.
Staring at a long line of chalk marks where your new privacy hedge will go can be both exciting and daunting. The thought of digging twenty, fifty, or even a hundred holes with a shovel is enough to make your back ache in anticipation. This is exactly where a good hand auger turns a weekend of grueling labor into a manageable, even satisfying, task.
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Hand Augers: The Back-Saving Hedge Planting Tool
A hand auger is not the same as a clamshell-style post-hole digger. Think of it more like a giant corkscrew for the earth. You press down and turn the handle, and the spiral blades pull soil up and out of the ground, creating a perfect, clean hole with minimal effort.
The real magic is in the posture. Instead of hunching over a shovel, you stand upright, using your body weight and core strength to drive the auger down. This simple change in mechanics is a game-changer for anyone who has felt that familiar lower back strain after a day in the garden. The resulting hole also has less-compacted sides, giving your new hedge roots an easier start.
This tool is about working smarter, not harder. It saves your energy for the important part: carefully placing and backfilling your new plants. For a long row of hedge plants, the efficiency gained is immense, turning a multi-day project into a single afternoon’s work.
Seymour Structron Iwan Auger for Tough Clay Soil
If your property is blessed with heavy, sticky clay, you know that digging is more like quarrying. The Seymour Structron Iwan Auger is built for exactly this challenge. Its design features two opposing blades that slice into compacted soil rather than trying to scoop it.
The fiberglass handle is a key feature. It absorbs shock and vibration far better than steel or wood, which you’ll appreciate when you hit a hidden rock or root. This tool is a bit heavier than others, but that weight helps it bite into the ground. It requires some muscle, but it rewards you by powering through ground that would stop a lesser auger cold.
Consider this your go-to tool for difficult soil conditions. It’s not the lightest or most ergonomic option, but when you need to reliably punch holes in dense earth, its raw cutting power is unmatched. It turns a frustrating task into a straightforward one.
Fiskars Ergo Garden Auger: Comfortable Handling
Planting a long hedge is a marathon, not a sprint. The Fiskars Ergo Garden Auger is designed for that endurance work. Its most noticeable feature is the offset, ergonomic handle, which keeps your wrists in a more natural position as you twist.
This design significantly reduces strain over dozens of repetitions. After digging your tenth hole, you’ll feel the difference compared to a traditional T-handle auger. The steel body is durable enough for most garden soils, though it may struggle with highly compacted or rocky ground.
This is the auger for someone prioritizing comfort and planting in prepared or loamy soil. If you have a lot of holes to dig and want to be able to use your hands the next day, the thoughtful ergonomics of the Fiskars make it a top contender. It’s a tool that acknowledges the physical toll of repetitive work.
Yard Butler Roto Digger for Power Drill Use
Sometimes, manual power just isn’t enough. The Yard Butler Roto Digger isn’t a standalone tool; it’s an auger bit that attaches to your power drill. This completely changes the game, turning a manual task into a powered one.
The advantage is obvious: speed. You can drill a hole in seconds. However, the tradeoff is significant. You need a powerful, high-torque drill with a side handle for stability. If the auger catches on a root or large rock, it can violently jerk the drill, posing a real risk to your wrists.
This option is best for rock-free, loamy soil and for someone who is already comfortable handling a powerful drill. It’s fantastic for drilling a large number of shallow holes for smaller hedge plants or bulbs. Think of it as a specialized tool for high-volume work in ideal conditions, not an all-purpose digger.
Bully Tools Auger: Heavy-Duty Steel Construction
There’s something to be said for simplicity and brute strength. The Bully Tools Auger is an exercise in durable, no-frills design. Made from heavy-gauge, all-welded steel, it’s built to last a lifetime.
There are no plastic grips to crack or fiberglass handles to splinter. This is a single, solid piece of equipment. The T-handle is basic but effective, providing good leverage. Its weight and robust construction mean you can put your full force into it without worrying about bending or breaking it.
This is the auger for someone who values durability above all else. It might not have the ergonomic bells and whistles of other models, but you’ll never have to buy another one. It’s the kind of tool you can use hard, put away dirty, and trust to work every single time you pull it out of the shed.
Ames Post Hole Auger for Uniform Hedge Spacing
While technically a "post hole digger," the auger action of the Ames model makes it perfect for hedge planting. Instead of a single spiral, it uses two handles and a split-auger design. You drive it into the ground with a twisting motion, then pull the handles apart to lift the soil out cleanly.
The primary benefit here is control and uniformity. This tool excels at creating holes of a consistent diameter and depth, which is critical for a visually straight and healthy hedge line. It’s also incredibly efficient at removing the loosened soil, leaving a clean hole ready for planting.
The motion is different—more of a push-twist-pull-lift sequence—but it’s very effective. For the hobby farmer who values precision and a neat, orderly appearance in their plantings, this tool offers a level of control that standard spiral augers can’t quite match.
Pro-Series Earth Auger for Variable Hole Depths
This gas-powered post hole digger features a robust 43cc engine and durable alloy steel drill bit for efficient digging in various soil conditions. Its user-friendly design includes an extended pull cord, comfortable grip, and conveniently located emergency stop switch.
Not all hedge plants are the same size, and not all ground is perfectly level. The Pro-Series Earth Auger often comes with features that address this, such as an extendable shaft. This allows you to set a consistent depth, even when working on a slight slope.
Adjustability means you can tailor the hole to the specific root ball of each plant, from small saplings to larger, more established shrubs. Some models have depth markings on the shaft, taking the guesswork out of the process and ensuring roots are planted at the optimal level.
This type of auger is ideal for mixed plantings or complex landscapes. It provides the flexibility needed to adapt to different plant requirements and terrain challenges. It’s a tool for the planner who wants every plant to have the perfect start.
Choosing the Right Auger Diameter for Your Plants
The diameter of your auger is the most critical decision you’ll make. A common mistake is buying one that’s too close to the size of the plant’s root ball. This forces you to jam the plant in, restricting root growth.
A good rule of thumb is to choose an auger that creates a hole roughly twice the diameter of the root ball. This gives you ample room to backfill with compost-rich soil and allows the roots to spread out into loosened earth, promoting faster establishment.
Here’s a practical guide:
- For bare-root saplings or plugs: A 2- or 3-inch auger is perfect.
- For 4-inch pots or quart containers: A 6-inch auger is a good choice.
- For 1-gallon container plants: You’ll want a 7- or 8-inch auger.
Don’t be tempted to get the biggest one you can find. A larger auger requires significantly more force to turn and removes more soil than you need, wasting your energy. Match the tool to the plant, and you’ll find the perfect balance of efficiency and effectiveness.
Choosing the right hand auger is about more than just digging holes. It’s an investment in your back, your time, and the long-term health of your hedge. By matching the tool to your soil type and planting needs, you transform a monumental task into a series of simple, repeatable steps, ensuring your new green border gets the best possible start.
