Soil series profile

Hayden soil series

Hayden is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 141,598 acres in 17 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#2593 by mapped area fine-loamy Glossic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 6.6
Mapped area: 142k

Typical Hayden 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 Hayden horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (Ap)	Loam	6.6	24%	39%	3%
9–13 in (E)	Loam	6.7	24%	39%	1.25%
13–18 in (BE)	Clay loam	6.0	28%	35%	1%
18–43 in (Bt)	Clay loam	6.3	30%	33%	0.5%
43–79 in (C)	Loam	7.9	25%	38%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Hayden map unit (Hayden loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, survey area MN147). 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 Hayden soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Hayden soils is neutral: pH 6.6 (most land between 6.5 and 6.6), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Hayden acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (87% of mapped Hayden acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 71% 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 92% of the acres in mapped Hayden soils very limited, 8% 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 Hayden soil is found

Mapped acres

Hayden is mapped in Minnesota and Iowa.

Counties with the most mapped Hayden soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Scott County, MN	39,342	17.4%
Boone County, IA	19,066	5.2%
Rice County, MN	17,839	5.6%
Steele County, MN	15,019	5.5%
Dallas County, IA	10,351	2.8%
Polk County, IA	7,843	2.1%
Ramsey County, MN	5,630	5.7%
Hamilton County, IA	4,351	1.2%
Hardin County, IA	4,350	1.2%
Story County, IA	4,151	1.1%
Freeborn County, MN	3,686	0.8%
Washington County, MN	3,253	1.3%
Anoka County, MN	1,773	0.7%
Jasper County, IA	1,736	0.4%
Wright County, IA	1,524	0.4%
Winnebago County, IA	1,352	0.5%
Greene County, IA	332	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Hayden acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 8%

Very limited 92%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Hayden acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	7.8%
Very limited	92.1%
Not rated	0.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Hayden acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 4.6 feet (55 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 4–30% (median 8%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.5%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Hayden acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.9%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.1%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 29%

C: slow infiltration 71%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Hayden acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	29.4%
C: slow infiltration	70.5%
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	0.1%

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 Hayden (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 141,598 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Hayden components. The profile comes from the single largest Hayden component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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