JB24 Bulb Planter, 2-3/4-Inch by 24-Inch Length

I found out that I am a contortionist while using this mini auger. I was using it with my Dewalt 20V max hammer drill on low speed/max torque setting. I was impressed with how well it was burrowing through the hard clay soil. Then I hit a tree root. Because I had a death grip on the drill, the torque twisted my arm 360 degrees like the head of a startled Tarsier. I had no idea that was possible, but it happened. It is only due to divine intervention that, my hand is still attached to my arm. Then I attached the auxiliary handle to my drill and set it to the number 7 torque stop setting. This worked out much better. Whenever I hit a root, the drill would automatically stop until I released the trigger and started again. In my opinion, this auger attachment is only safe when used with a drill equipped with an automatic a torque stop, such as the Dewalt 20V hammer drill  DEWALT DCD996P2 20V MAX XR Lithium Ion Brushless 3-Speed Hammer Drill Kit DCD996P2The best way to use this auger is hold the drill tightly with both hands as to not allow it to pull itself into the ground to quickly. This way minimizes the frequency of abrupt stops. When used with a hammer drill on the correct setting, the fly wheel in the drill will take the brunt of the force if you hit a root or rock. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to drill 75, 10 inch deep holes in an hour or so. I ended up hauling off 2 wheelbarrow loads of dirt.

I live in an area where the ground is clay and extremely hard like concrete. I was installing a flag pole and needed to dig a hole 18 inches wide and 26 inches deep to install the base in concrete. Ground was so hard a shovel bounced off. I bought this device to loosen up the ground and it did an excellent job and made quick work of digging the hole. The only problem I encountered, and it may have been my fault, was the shaft is round and the chuck loosened and spun around the shaft. I tightened it up and kept drilling without a problem. I thought about grinding flats on the shaft before I started but decided I could get a good chuck grip without doing that.

I had ordered 200 tulip bulbs and 100 daffodil bulbs to plant in the fall. We have clay soil and got absolutely no rain this fall so I found myself with 300 bulbs to plant just a few days before Thanksgiving. So, being desperate I ordered this bulb planter via Amazon Prime and the day it arrived I started planting bulbs! It took me a while to figure out how to use it in very hard clay soil but eventually I figured it out and got all my bulbs planted! Thankfully, I have a very powerful electric drill! I know I will be using it extensively this spring when I divide up some groundcover and I am sure it will come in handy through out the growing season!

My wife is a Master Gardner. I ordered this bulb planter to speed up her spring bulb planting. It was a total success! She and I were both amazed at how easy this year's planting was, compared to past years. I drilled the holes, she placed the bulbs and covered them. We were finished in no time at all with a job that would have taken her most of a morning! If you plant bulbs, buy one of these planters, especially if you have a problem bending to dig. The long shaft (24" total length) made the digging a "no worries" task.

This planter will work fine in very soft, rock-free soils but has issues for any other use case. I’m using it in harder clay soils and have found the metal of the auger to be too soft.The tip blunted almost on the first use. When the auger hits rocks and jams, the drill chuck just tears up the shaft and produces metal shavings. After three holes, the leading edge of the auger is already wearing away. Finally, since the tip blunted so quickly, it takes quite a bit of pressure to advance the bit, but the mild steel shaft bends easily.Once I use this one up, probably in a season or two, I’ll look for one made from a harder tool steel.

I actually use this to dig dirt from under concrete slabs when installing radon systems. We drill a 5" hole through a basement concrete slab floor. We then have to dig the dirt out through the hole. These are like augers and dig \ break of the dirt great. I've really abused the 2 I've bought, digging through compacted damp clay, rocks, all kinds of bad \ extreme conditions. I use them far harder then someone planting flowers and they've held up greater then ever expected.

This auger will make planting holes quickly with little effort. It also throws dirt in all directions so you should use an electric drill which has variable speed control. I did have trouble in wet clay. The cutting angle is rather aggressive, and the auger can get stuck in heavy soil. It works best in garden soil with good hummus content. Overall, I was quite satisfied with this product.

Seems durable enough for any homeowner. Carves easily through rocky soil and clay. Only quibble is with the round shaft where it contacts the drill chuck. This allows it to spin when things get tough. I was eventually able to tighten the chuck enough, but spinning also caused the chrome finish to flake off leaving me to wonder about the long term rust resistance. Time will tell.