Bob [K5QWG] -writes-
"Another idea, just dig a shallow ditch,
and lay your rod in it horizontally."

Horizontal [Flat] Ground Rod Under-the-Lawn {Garden}
[ For "Receive Only" Shortwave Antenna & Ground Systems ]
What To Do - When Pounding into the Ground is not possible
or permited.

For the Shortwave Listener (SWL) this is especially a good idea
if you have a Lawn {Garden} and an Automatic Sprinkler System
that keeps the Lawn's Ground Area 'moist' {Conductive} all the time.

Select an Area of the Lawn {Garden} where you can place your
"Buried" Ground Rod or Copper Pipe.

Carefully cut-out Eight (8) One-Foot-Squares of Lawn about 4"-6" Deep.
Place the Squares aside and wet and cover them until they are replaced.


Cover the Area around the cut-out Area of the Lawn and dig-out
a Trench about 6"-8" Wide and about 6"-8" Deep in the exposed
Soil {Dirt} so that the Bottom of the Trench is about 12"-18" Deep.
The Bottom of the Trench should be relatively smooth and level.

Cover the Bottom of the Trench with a 1/2" Layer of Bentonite {Kitty
Litter}.

Next add a thin even Layer of a Dry Mixture of 24 Oz Epson Salt
and 12 Oz. Copper Sulfate to the Bottom of the Hole.

Lay the Ground Rod {Pipe} in the center of the Bottom of the Trench.

Attach the Clamp and Wire to the Ground Rod {Copper Pipe}.

Add a second 1/2" Layer of Bentonite {Kitty Litter} to the Bottom
of the Trench.

Wet (Soak) the Soil, Bentonite and Salts at the Bottom of the Hole.

Re-Fill the Hole with the Soil that was removed from it and Wet
down the Soil and gentle Tamp-it-Down.

Carefully place the Removed Squares of Lawn back into the Area
that it was cut-out from and Wet down the Lawn and gently
Tamp-it-Down.

Caution - Ensure that the Ground Wire is Secure and Not a
Tripping Hazard where it leaves the Ground.

Question - Ground Rod of Copper Pipe for this type of Horizontal
[Flat] Grounding Set-Up ? - IMHO a Copper Pipe is the preferred
as it has more actual copper in it and the Solid Steel Core is not
needed to Drive the Ground Rod into the Hard Ground.

Tip - If this method of Under-the-Lawn Horizontal [Flat] Grounding
Set-Up is used two Copper Pipes can be Use and placed about
4"-6" apart in the same Trench at little extra cost and no extra work.

NOTE - If you are just installing a new Sprinkler System
for your Lawn or Garden - Then you should read :
Buried Copper Wire {Flexible} Ground Rod without a Hard Rod
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...adcbeaaded1540

50 Feet of # 8 AWG Bare Copper Wire buried in the Trenchs can
be a very effective Grounding System for Shortwave Listeners
(SWLs) and not involve any extra work to accomplish.


hope this helps - iane ~ RHF