Ground sockets are always required if you want to set up wooden posts, fence posts or entire garden houses or carports, for example. The special sleeves are screwed directly to the ground, hammered into the ground, embedded in concrete or simply inserted. In our compact guide you will find out what to look out for when buying ground sockets.
Ground sockets protect posts and the like from moisture and decay
Our recommendations
our recommendation
GAH-Alberts 211288 impact ground socket | for round or square wooden posts | hot-dip galvanized | 91 x 91mm | Total length 750mm
EUR 9.80 To the product| Type | impact ground sleeve |
|---|---|
| type of attachment | hitting |
| material | Hot-dip galvanized steel |
| profile | square |
| internal dimensions | 91 x 91 x 150 mm (WxDxH) |
| length | 750mm |
| Weight | about 1kg |
This ground socket from GAH-Alberts is a real classic in the field of ground sockets for driving in. It is made of galvanized steel and has a square profile with internal dimensions of 91 x 91 x 150 mm (WxDxH). Accordingly, the drive-in sleeve is suitable for square posts of the right size. Most reviewers on Amazon are enthusiastic about this model. It should be easy to drive into the ground, especially in combination with a driving aid, and it should then be absolutely stable. The impact ground socket has four holes, each with a diameter of eleven millimeters.
our recommendation
Blome 33520 ground sleeve set duo fix
11.95 EUR To the product| Type | ground anchor |
|---|---|
| type of attachment | turning |
| material | plastic, metal core |
| profile | around |
| internal dimensions | Ø 55 to 17 mm |
| length | 600mm |
| Weight | n/a |
The practical set by Blome includes two plastic ground sockets with a solid metal core. With the sleeves, parasols, rotary clothes lines or ball nets, for example, as well as many other components can be infinitely fastened. The prerequisite for this is that the elements have standpipes with a diameter between 17 and 55 millimeters. Thanks to the supplied screw-in rod, the sleeves can be screwed into the ground quickly and easily. For the majority of the reviewers on Amazon, the ground sockets are of high quality and functionally convincing. They should really cling to the ground and hold the respective components bombproof.
our recommendation
Leifheit ground dowel with screw-in rod for screwing in, ground sleeve for a secure hold, ground anchor also for commercial laundry and sunshades
14.64 EUR To the product| Type | ground anchor |
|---|---|
| type of attachment | turning |
| material | plastic, metal core |
| profile | around |
| internal dimensions | Ø 50mm |
| length | 241mm |
| Weight | n/a |
The ground anchor from Leifheit is our recommendation for all hobby gardeners who only want to anchor a rotary dryer or parasol in the ground. Essentially, it has the same characteristics as the second-placed model in our comparison; however, it is much shorter and not quite as flexible to use. This ground socket is very popular with Amazon reviewers - not least because of the simple assembly.
Purchase Criteria
Type/type of attachment
impact ground sockets: As the name suggests, you have to drive these ground sockets into the ground. There are also special impact tools on the market for this purpose. Drive-in sleeves are considered to be particularly stable due to the mostly robust material and the type of attachment.
ground anchor: In addition to the ground sockets, you will find various ground anchors that you can set in concrete, screw into the ground or anchor to asphalt surfaces using dowels and screws, depending on the specific model. Which type of fastening is the right one always depends on the respective project and the components.
material
Most ground sockets are made of steel with a hot-dip galvanized surface. The post bases do not rust due to the galvanizing. You can also choose from other materials, such as stainless steel, which is also corrosion-resistant, aluminum or plastic. Plastic sleeves are generally less stable than metal or steel variants and are therefore cheaper, but often endanger the long-term stability of the post.
profile
Ground sockets are available with a round or square profile. In your research you may come across special forms. Insert the wooden or fence post to be fastened into the profile of the sleeve. It is therefore only logical that round profiles are recommended for round posts, while you need ground sockets with an angular profile for rectangular or square slats.
internal dimensions
In order to be able to use fence or wooden posts and other components precisely, you must always ensure that the inside dimensions of the post base harmonize with the components to be fixed. Otherwise there will inevitably be problems: Wooden posts that are too large will not fit into the sleeve receptacle, which will only cause you unnecessary additional work; if the posts are too small, they wobble in the ground sockets, which has a negative effect on stability.
length
Basically, the longer the ground socket, the higher or larger the support and recording surface. As a result, the fence post is located deeper and more securely in the socket, which in turn increases the stability of the entire construction. Therefore, when in doubt, you should always opt for a longer version.
Weight
The weight of a ground socket depends, among other things, on the material and the length or size. Cases that weigh less are literally easier to handle. The normally better material and/or the often somewhat denser processing speak in favor of heavier ground sockets. Our advice: If a particularly large number of ground sockets have to be anchored, do yourself and your strength a favor with lightweight (more) n sockets.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What are ground sockets and what are they for?
Ground sockets are elements made of steel, metal or plastic, which are used to stably fix components such as wooden and fence posts or tubes for parasols, rotary clothes dryers, summerhouses, carports, climbing frames or similar components in the ground without embedding these components in concrete. Various types are available on the market, each of which is recommended for specific projects.
What types of ground sockets are there?
Ground sockets are primarily differentiated according to how they are installed. There are sleeves that are hammered into the ground - so-called impact ground sleeves or ground impact sleeves, versions that are concreted in, models that are only pushed into the ground, and variants that are fixed using dowels and screws.
What is the advantage of ground sockets?
The biggest advantage of ground sockets is the fact that wooden posts and similar components can be attached flexibly with the post supports. Instead of embedding them in concrete, simply insert them into the sleeves. You can then easily remove the posts at a later date without having to destroy them.
Which brands offer good ground sockets?
The best-known and most popular brands of ground sockets include ADGO, Blome, Connex, ESTEXO, GAH-Alberts, KOTARBAU, Leifheit and SAUERLAND.
Where is the best place to buy ground sockets?
Ground sockets are usually available in all well-stocked hardware stores such as OBI, hagebaumarkt, Bauhaus, toom or Hornbach. You will also find what you are looking for in most garden centers. Amazon.de also offers you a considerable selection. There you benefit from a simple ordering procedure. If you are dissatisfied with the ground sockets you have ordered, you can usually return them free of charge.
Is it also possible to buy used ground sockets?
Yes, that is possible. Ask your trusted hardware store or look around online - for example on eBay or on the Amazon marketplace. But: In most cases, new ground sockets can be obtained very cheaply, even if they are of high quality, so we advise you to buy new goods in order not to take any risks.
equipment
impact tool
If you decide to use ground sockets, we recommend that you also purchase a suitable tool as a driving aid. By using such a tool, assembly is much easier, faster and safer, because it minimizes the risk of injury when hammering in the sleeves. When buying, make sure that the impact aid harmonises with the ground sockets you have chosen.
our recommendation
GAH-Alberts 211233 impact tool | for drive-in ground sockets 70 x 70 mm and Ø80 mm | plastic, green
14.43 EUR To the productlevel
In addition to an impact tool, a spirit level is also a useful accessory for efficiently attaching the ground sockets. It helps you to fix the sleeves straight or in the correct position in the ground or on the ground. In the meantime, there are functional spirit levels on the market at very reasonable prices.
our recommendation