Uses for a Skid Steer Auger

Uses for a skid steer auger can range from planting trees on a farm to putting up a fence around your house.

Skid steer augers happen to be one of the most useful skid steer attachments out there - reducing the need for manual labor. With a wide range of uses, it’s no wonder why these attachments are so popular. From setting fence posts to grinding a tree stump, a skid steer auger saves time and money by getting the job done faster. Investing in one of these attachments could be a real bang for your buck - especially if you are in the construction or landscaping industry.

What is a Skid Steer Auger?

A skid steer auger is essentially a big drill. Once hooked up to your skid steer, it uses hydraulic power to spin the auger and the leverage of the machine’s arms to help drive it into the ground. Most augers have a bit depth of around six feet (72 inches) though that can vary by skid steer and drill bits. Once it comes time to make a choice on size, you’ll also need to be aware of the diameter, which we’ll get into a little further down the page.  

Why Use a Skid Steer Auger?

Skid steer auger attachments have replaced the need for many man-powered tools. Let’s say you’d like to plant a tree with a sizable rootball. Using a shovel or post-hole diggers, you’re liable to spend hours, not to mention the blisters, carving out a hole for the tree. With a skid steer and an auger attachment, you can have the hole dug sans the blisters in a matter of minutes. It’ll probably take you longer to hook up the auger than it will to drill the hole!

When using specific auger bits, they have the ability to dig accurately through a vast array of terrains - including sand, rock, wood, and even ice. Plus, the holes dug by an auger are extremely precise and accurate - not to mention can be created pretty quickly. This saves valuable time that can later be spent working on other jobs. 

Skid steer augers have replaced the need for many man-powered tools.

Uses for a Skid Steer Auger

Let’s dive into a few jobs, chores, projects, whatever you call them, where a skid steer auger can really come in handy. From installing fences to setting the foundation on a structure, this is one attachment you can’t do without if the goal is to save time and money in the long run.

Installing Fence and Sign Posts

Using a skid steer auger for fence and sign installation happens to be one of the most common uses. The appeal is in the timeliness in which you can get it done as well as the lack of a sore body you’d otherwise feel after using man-powered tools. 

Augers can dig deep (most up to six feet, as mentioned) and they’re precise. Measure twice and cut once applies here, as in make sure you clearly mark where you want the holes drilled. Of course, if you mess up, it’s not a huge loss. Simply fill in the errant hole and start over. 

Planting Trees

Skid steer augers can also be a useful assistant in planting trees. This is because when digging, they create perfectly sized and evenly spaced holes. Since the holes are perfectly spaced apart and dug to the perfect depth, it creates the ideal space for a tree to grow into its full potential. 

After digging, the auger leaves behind clean and secure holes. It also removes any rock and soil from the hole in the process - so that only the cleared hole remains. This eliminates the need to remove unwanted material from the freshly dug hole. 

      Augers can dig deep, and they're precise. 

Removing Tree Stumps

A specific auger bit - typically referred to as a stump planer - can be used as a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to grinding and removing tree stumps. These modified bits allow you to shave down a stump, layer by layer, to eliminate it - essentially creating mulch. When shaving, the auger recycles the nutrients from the stump back into the soil. 

Building Foundations

An auger attachment is a contractor’s best friend when it comes to setting the foundation of a structure. Using an auger, drilling holes for footings are going to be accurate and precise most of the time. Again, just make sure you measure well before drilling begins.

Tractor owners also have access to augers that are built for the three-point hitch. While these are going to be a bit harder to hook up than the universal skid steer quick attach, they are still helpful implements. Before you tackle that next job that requires a whole lot of digging, give us a call or stop by The Lot to explore your options with a brand new skid steer auger!