Keep a Mailbox Post From Rotting at the Ground Line

Mailbox and fence posts don't rot in the middle — they rot in the two inches right at ground level, where moisture and air meet. A few minutes at install or repair time changes the timeline.

Protect the ground line

• Set the post on a few inches of gravel at the bottom of the hole so water drains away from the end grain.
• Backfill and mound the soil slightly so it sheds water away from the post instead of cupping it.
• Keep mulch, soil, and sprinkler spray from piling constant moisture against the wood. Adjust any sprinkler head that waters your mailbox daily.
• A coat of exterior paint or sealer on the ground-line band of an existing post slows the process down.

Wiggle-test your posts once a year. Catching the lean early means a brace or a reset — catching it late means digging a new hole.