How to Prepare the Ground for a Flag Pole

Using a post hole digger, we dug a foundation hole 2 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep.  We filled the bottom of the hole with a sack of gravel (pebbles) and as I recall one sack of dry sand (as opposed to sea sand from the beach).  The pebbles and the sand should reach a combined depth of 6 to 8 inches.

The flag pole comes with a PVC ground sleeve (for the pole's protection) and it should be inserted about 1 inch into the sand.  At this point, insert the bottom part of the flag pole into the sleeve for stability.

Now comes the fun part:  to mix and pour the concrete.  We used 3 bags of 60 lbs plus 2 bags of 40 lbs.  We mixed the concrete in a special tray (bought at a home improvement store).  Each bag comes with instructions of how to mix the concrete and how much water to use.

By all means remove the flag pole section from the sleeve but be sure to cover the opening of the sleeve to prevent concrete to fall into it which spells trouble.  Pour or scoop the concrete into the hole and let it cure for at least 24 hours.

After the concrete is poured and tamped down around the sleeve, put the flag pole section back into the sleeve and use a level to make sure that the flagpole is absolutely vertical.  You do not want it to lean.

My husband made a form of a plastic flower pot with a 1 foot in diameter and 6 inches deep to place on top of the now cured concrete.  He mixed additional concrete and poured it into the mold.  The mold could be removed but he decided to let it be and it wouldn't show anyway.  Let this concrete also cure.

Follow the instructions that comes with the flag pole.  It comes with printed instructions and drawings.

Fly your flag proudly.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

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The fine print:  I use my blog as a journal to record what is going on in my Back Forty Garden and Park.  It is not my intention to tell you how you should gardening, grow your fruit and berries, vegetables and herbs, or take care of yourself.  The content is my own ramblings and so are the pictures unless otherwise stated.  I hope, however, that I have sparked some interest in gardening and related subject but it is imperative that you do your own research.