Abstract: An in-ground pole receptacle can be driven into or buried in the ground by a homeowner or other individual who is familiar with the routing of underground sprinkler pipes. The pole receptacle has a stake component with a cylindrical chamber that serves as a receptacle for the lower end of a flagpole or other pole and a top plate component that prevents grass from growing around the opening of the cylindrical chamber. The holder is further equipped with a hinged cap or resilient plug secured to the top plate component that is used to cover the opening of the chamber so that soil and debris can be excluded from the chamber when the pole is not installed therein. The stake component and the top plate component can be formed separately or they can be unitary.