Soil series profile

Freehold soil series

Freehold is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 95,059 acres in 10 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group B.

#3669 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 95k

Typical Freehold 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 Freehold horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–10 in (Ap)	Sandy loam	5.8	12%	65%	2%
10–14 in (Bt1)	Sandy loam	5.8	18%	65%	0.1%
14–21 in (Bt2)	Sandy clay loam	5.3	23%	61%	0.1%
21–35 in (Bt3)	Sandy loam	5.1	19%	64%	0.1%
35–80 in (C)	Loamy sand	4.8	8%	80%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Freehold map unit (Freehold sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, survey area NJ025). 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 Freehold soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Freehold soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8 (most land between 4.6 and 5.8). Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 81% of mapped Freehold acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (59% of mapped Freehold acres).

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

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Freehold soils very limited, 0% 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 Freehold soil is found

Mapped acres

Freehold is mapped in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Counties with the most mapped Freehold soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Monmouth County, NJ	42,193	14.1%
Burlington County, NJ	23,606	4.5%
Gloucester County, NJ	21,841	10.6%
Camden County, NJ	7,117	4.9%
Ocean County, NJ	148	0.0%
New Castle County, DE	45	0.0%
Cecil County, MD	42	0.0%
Mercer County, NJ	38	0.0%
Salem County, NJ	18	0.0%
Middlesex County, NJ	12	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Freehold acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Freehold acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Freehold 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 1–13% (median 3%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

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 Freehold acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Freehold 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 100%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Freehold acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	100.0%
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%

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 Freehold (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 95,059 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Freehold components. The profile comes from the single largest Freehold component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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