Every gardener eventually learns the same lesson: what grows beautifully in your neighbor's yard might fail completely in yours, even though you're on the same street. The difference? Soil type. And thanks to the USDA's Web Soil Survey, you can find your exact soil composition without leaving your couch.
How to Find Your Soil Type Online
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has mapped virtually every acre of the United States. The Web Soil Survey lets you look up detailed soil data by address, zip code, or coordinates.
Step-by-step process
- Visit mysoiltype.com and enter your zip code
- We pull USDA soil survey data for your area, showing dominant soil types
- Each soil type includes: texture, drainage class, pH range, organic matter content, and plant suitability
- For more detail, click through to the USDA Web Soil Survey and draw your exact property boundary
Understanding Your Soil Survey Results
Soil texture
Soil texture describes the proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles. The USDA classifies soils into 12 texture classes, from sand (coarsest) to clay (finest). Most garden soils fall somewhere in the middle — sandy loam, loam, silt loam, or clay loam.
| Texture Class | Feel | Drainage | Fertility | Workability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | Gritty | Excellent (too fast) | Low | Easy |
| Sandy loam | Slightly gritty | Good | Medium | Easy |
| Loam | Smooth, slightly gritty | Good | High | Easy |
| Silt loam | Smooth, silky | Moderate | High | Medium |
| Clay loam | Smooth, slightly sticky | Slow | High | Hard |
| Clay | Sticky, plastic | Very slow | Very high | Very hard |
Drainage class
Drainage class tells you how quickly water moves through the soil. This matters enormously for plant selection:
- Excessively drained: Sandy soils where water disappears fast. Plants dry out quickly. Add organic matter and mulch.
- Well drained: The ideal for most plants. Water moves through at a healthy rate.
- Moderately well drained: Adequate for most plants but may stay wet in spring.
- Somewhat poorly drained: Wet for significant periods. Limit to moisture-tolerant plants.
- Poorly drained: Wet most of the year. Rain gardens, willows, and wetland plants only.
Soil pH
pH measures acidity/alkalinity on a 0-14 scale. Most garden plants prefer 6.0-7.0. Blueberries need 4.5-5.5. Lavender thrives at 7.0-8.0. Your soil survey shows the typical pH range for your area, but test your specific garden for accuracy. See our guide to testing soil pH at home.
Regional Soil Patterns in the US
Northeast
Glacial soils: rocky, acidic (pH 5.0-6.5), often well-drained sandy loam or clay loam. Blueberries and azaleas love it naturally. Most vegetables need lime to raise pH.
Southeast
Red clay soils dominate much of Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama. High in iron, nutrient-rich but compacted. Drainage is the primary challenge. Our clay soil guide covers solutions.
Midwest
Some of the richest agricultural soil on Earth. Deep, dark prairie soils (Mollisols) with high organic matter. If you garden in Iowa or Illinois, your soil is the envy of most of the country.
Southwest
Alkaline soils (pH 7.5-8.5), low organic matter, caliche layers. Water conservation is the priority. Desert-adapted and Mediterranean plants thrive.
Pacific Northwest
Volcanic-origin soils in many areas: well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic. Excellent for most vegetables and fruits.
What to Do Once You Know Your Soil Type
- Match plants to soil: Choose plants suited to your existing conditions — it's easier than changing the soil
- Amend strategically: Compost improves virtually every soil type. Clay benefits from organic matter. Sandy soil benefits from organic matter. Compost is the universal answer.
- Test pH and adjust: Lime raises pH (for acidic soil). Sulfur lowers pH (for alkaline soil). Apply based on soil test recommendations, not guessing.
- Consider raised beds: If your native soil is really problematic, raised beds let you start with ideal conditions while the existing soil gradually improves beneath.
Enter your zip code at mysoiltype.com to get your specific soil data, plant recommendations, and amendment suggestions.