Soil series profile

Annapolis soil series

Annapolis is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 27,116 acres in 4 counties in MD. Hydrologic group C.

#8843 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.4
Mapped area: 27k

Typical Annapolis profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Annapolis horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Fine sandy loam	5.4	11%	67%	0.93%
8–27 in (Bt)	Channery sandy clay loam	5.2	26%	52%	0.4%
27–61 in (E and Bt)	Loamy sand	5.3	13%	85%	0.13%
61–81 in (CB)	Loamy sand	5.1	9%	88%	0.12%

Representative values from the most extensive Annapolis map unit (Annapolis-Urban land complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes, survey area MD003). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Annapolis soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Annapolis soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.4. Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 90% of mapped Annapolis acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (90% of mapped Annapolis acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 92% 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 99% of the acres in mapped Annapolis soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% 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.

Where Annapolis soil is found

Mapped acres

Annapolis is mapped in Maryland.

Counties with the most mapped Annapolis soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Anne Arundel County, MD	21,323	7.4%
Prince George's County, MD	4,257	1.4%
Charles County, MD	1,474	0.5%
Baltimore County, MD	61	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Annapolis acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 99%

Not rated 2%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Annapolis acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Annapolis acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	98.5%
Not rated	1.5%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Annapolis acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 3–33% (median 10%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.9%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 1%

Drainage class across mapped Annapolis acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Annapolis acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 7%

C: slow infiltration 92%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 0%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Not rated 1%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Annapolis acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Annapolis acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	7.2%
C: slow infiltration	91.8%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained	0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained	0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.0%

Sources & data dates

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
Data date: SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
Scope: All map unit components named Annapolis (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 27,116 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Annapolis components. The profile comes from the single largest Annapolis component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Annapolis.