[btimbit]

How close to the line?

Always good to find it first to be sure. If this was just a one call locate then they just mark where the line is supposed to be. Underground utilities can shift and move, or simply not be put ion the correct spot. Normally I'd do a secondary sweep with an actual locater, or in this case, simply hand expose anyway.

Your post was a little hard to follow though. Did you dig down to the depth that the stakes are going to? Or just the planter? If the stakes aren't going any further than what you've dug then I'd dig a bit more to be sure then place them.

Keep in mind, if an atco rep suggested hand exposing, and you don't, and something goes wrong, you're going to have a bit more than a bad day. The world of underground utilities is a world of liability. In this case simply doing the one call isn't enough to protect you