Soil series profile

Blaney soil series

Blaney is a well drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 163,068 acres in 7 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#2253 by mapped area loamy Arenic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.5
Mapped area: 163k

Typical Blaney 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 Blaney horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–4 in (A)	Loamy sand	5.5	6%	85%	1%
4–25 in (E)	Loamy sand	5.0	6%	85%	0.25%
25–62 in (Bt)	Sandy clay loam	5.0	27%	56%	0.25%
62–80 in (C)	Loamy coarse sand	5.0	8%	82%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Blaney map unit (Blaney loamy sand, 2 to 8 percent slopes, survey area NC093). 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 Blaney soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Blaney soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.5. 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.

Sandy topsoil covers 100% of mapped Blaney acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy sand (77% of mapped Blaney acres).

100% of mapped Blaney acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 98% 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 98% of the acres in mapped Blaney soils very limited, 2% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

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 Blaney soil is found

Mapped acres

Blaney is mapped in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Counties with the most mapped Blaney soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Hoke County, NC	57,184	25.3%
Lexington County, SC	37,218	8.4%
Harnett County, NC	33,275	9.4%
Cumberland County, NC	26,298	7.1%
Lee County, NC	5,695	3.9%
Lancaster County, SC	2,431	0.7%
Moore County, NC	967	0.2%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Blaney acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 2%

Very limited 98%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Blaney acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	2.1%
Very limited	97.9%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Blaney acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 3.9 feet (47 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 5–12% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Blaney acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 2%

C: slow infiltration 98%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Blaney acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	2.1%
C: slow infiltration	97.9%
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%

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 Blaney (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 163,068 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Blaney components. The profile comes from the single largest Blaney component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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