Soil series profile

Fetzer soil series

Fetzer is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a loamy fine sand surface, mapped on 76,804 acres in 4 counties in TX. Hydrologic group A.

#4312 by mapped area fine-loamy Aquic Paleudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
Hydrologic group: A
Typical topsoil pH: 5.5
Mapped area: 77k

Typical Fetzer 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 Fetzer horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (A)	Loamy fine sand	5.5	8%	86%	0.55%
6–28 in (E)	Loamy fine sand	5.3	8%	86%	0.55%
28–80 in (Btg)	Clay loam	6.2	40%	29%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Fetzer map unit (Fetzer loamy fine sand, 1 to 5 percent slopes, survey area TX339). 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 Fetzer soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Fetzer 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 97% of mapped Fetzer 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 fine sand (97% of mapped Fetzer acres).

>99% of mapped Fetzer acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.

For lawns and yards

97% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 97% of the acres in mapped Fetzer soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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 Fetzer soil is found

Mapped acres

Fetzer is mapped in Texas.

Counties with the most mapped Fetzer soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Montgomery County, TX	61,110	9.2%
Grimes County, TX	12,595	2.5%
Waller County, TX	3,093	0.9%
Austin County, TX	6	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Fetzer acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 97%

Not rated 3%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Fetzer acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	97.2%
Not rated	2.8%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Fetzer acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 3–7% (median 3%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.6%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained <1%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained >99%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Fetzer acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.6%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	99.4%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 97%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

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 3%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Fetzer acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	97.3%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	0.0%
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	2.7%

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 Fetzer (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 76,804 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Fetzer components. The profile comes from the single largest Fetzer component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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