Yeah, I've seen the pros with deep cuts and they usually only take about 2 inches at a time, however when I have timed myself it goes a bit faster if I take more with this little saw I have need a bigger saw....but then I'd need a bigger truck... yada yada... I like to drill the holes very last but the boss tends to want to drill them earlier because it's 'easier'.... of course then you got to take precuations like you did or 'try' to clean all the rock and crud out of them after all the backfill is done.... You always do some pretty nice looking work, bob