Soil series profile
Guernsey soil series
Guernsey is a moderately well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 541,569 acres in 53 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 94% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D 54% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.1 strongly acidic · range 5.1–5.9
- Mapped area
- 542k acres in 53 counties, 4 states
Typical Guernsey profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–9 in (H1) | Silty clay loam | 5.9 | 31% | 18% | 1.25% |
| 9–40 in (H2) | Silty clay | 6.2 | 48% | 6% | 0.3% |
| 40–80 in (H3) | Silty clay | 6.8 | 48% | 6% | 0.2% |
| 80–83 in (H4) | Weathered bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Guernsey soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Guernsey soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.1 (most land between 5.1 and 5.9). 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 92% of mapped Guernsey acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (82% of mapped Guernsey acres).
94% of mapped Guernsey 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 Guernsey soils very limited, 0% 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.
Where Guernsey soil is found
Mapped acres
Guernsey is mapped in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County, PA | 52,184 | 9.5% |
| Athens County, OH | 47,286 | 14.6% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 39,692 | 10.9% |
| Perry County, OH | 38,362 | 14.6% |
| Harrison County, OH | 31,289 | 12.2% |
| Fayette County, PA | 27,931 | 5.5% |
| Westmoreland County, PA | 27,721 | 4.2% |
| Allegheny County, PA | 26,767 | 5.7% |
| Guernsey County, OH | 25,449 | 7.6% |
| Morgan County, OH | 25,121 | 9.4% |
| Muskingum County, OH | 23,065 | 5.4% |
| Noble County, OH | 22,847 | 8.9% |
| Greene County, PA | 18,919 | 5.2% |
| Gallia County, OH | 18,870 | 6.3% |
| Hocking County, OH | 12,931 | 4.8% |
| Meigs County, OH | 12,732 | 4.6% |
| Jefferson County, OH | 11,418 | 4.4% |
| Coshocton County, OH | 10,384 | 2.9% |
| Harrison County, WV | 9,064 | 4.1% |
| Beaver County, PA | 7,790 | 2.8% |
| Carroll County, OH | 6,764 | 2.7% |
| Monongalia County, WV | 4,653 | 2.5% |
| Vinton County, OH | 4,162 | 1.6% |
| Belmont County, OH | 3,835 | 1.1% |
| Marion County, WV | 3,672 | 2.3% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 3,635 | 1.1% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 3,352 | 1.2% |
| Washington County, OH | 2,641 | 0.7% |
| Tazewell County, VA | 2,502 | 0.9% |
| Brooke County, WV | 1,746 | 3.6% |
| Montgomery County, VA | 1,501 | 0.7% |
| Butler County, PA | 1,311 | 0.3% |
| Licking County, OH | 1,255 | 0.3% |
| Augusta County, VA | 1,239 | 0.2% |
| Highland County, OH | 1,171 | 0.3% |
| Ohio County, WV | 1,112 | 2.0% |
| Indiana County, PA | 1,088 | 0.2% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 1,080 | 0.3% |
| Frederick County, VA | 1,065 | 0.5% |
| Monroe County, OH | 782 | 0.3% |
| Marshall County, WV | 637 | 0.4% |
| Taylor County, WV | 582 | 0.7% |
| Clarion County, PA | 561 | 0.1% |
| Holmes County, OH | 506 | 0.2% |
| Armstrong County, PA | 366 | 0.1% |
| Jackson County, OH | 119 | 0.0% |
| Fairfield County, OH | 116 | 0.0% |
| Hancock County, WV | 90 | 0.2% |
| Knox County, OH | 85 | 0.0% |
| Stark County, OH | 81 | 0.0% |
| Lawrence County, PA | 35 | 0.0% |
| Mercer County, WV | 4 | 0.0% |
| Ashland County, OH | 1 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Guernsey acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 93.7% |
| Not rated | 6.3% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Guernsey acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.8 feet (22 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 1% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on <1% of acres (0% occasional, 0% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 5–35% (median 20%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.7%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 93.7% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 6.3% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 39.8% |
| 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 | 53.9% |
| Not rated | 6.3% |
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 Guernsey (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 541,569 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Guernsey components. The profile comes from the single largest Guernsey component. Full methodology.