Altamont soil series

What this means

What Altamont soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Altamont soils is neutral: pH 7.0 (most land between 6.7 and 7.5), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Clayey topsoil covers 88% of mapped Altamont acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is clay (78% of mapped Altamont acres).

99% of mapped Altamont acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 94% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 94% of the acres in mapped Altamont soils very limited, <1% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (6% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.