Soil series profile

Myford soil series

Myford is a moderately well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 39,633 acres in 4 counties in CA. Hydrologic group C.

#6969 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Palexeralfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.6
Mapped area: 40k

Typical Myford 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 Myford horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–1 in (A1)	Sandy loam	5.6	8%	68%	0.75%
1–4 in (A2)	Sandy loam	5.6	8%	68%	0.75%
4–12 in (A3)	Sandy loam	5.6	8%	68%	0.75%
12–18 in (Bt1)	Sandy clay	7.0	40%	52%	1.5%
18–28 in (Bt2)	Sandy clay loam	7.0	25%	57%	1.5%
28–35 in (Btk1)	Sandy clay loam	7.3	25%	57%	0.25%
35–41 in (Btk2)	Sandy clay loam	7.3	25%	57%	0.25%
41–49 in (B't1)	Sandy clay loam	7.3	25%	57%	0.25%
49–61 in (B't2)	Sandy clay loam	7.3	25%	57%	0.25%
61–71 in (Bt3)	Sandy clay loam	7.3	25%	57%	0.25%
71–79 in (C)	Sandy loam	6.3	12%	68%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Myford map unit (Myford sandy loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, survey area CA678). 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 Myford soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Myford soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.6. 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 >99% of mapped Myford acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (>99% of mapped Myford acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Myford 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 Myford soil is found

Mapped acres

Myford is mapped in California.

Counties with the most mapped Myford soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Orange County, CA	39,370	7.8%
Los Angeles County, CA	143	0.0%
San Diego County, CA	115	0.0%
Riverside County, CA	6	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Myford acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Myford acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.9%
Not rated	0.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Myford 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 1–20% (median 6%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 100%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Myford acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	100.0%
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 0%

C: slow infiltration 61%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 39%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Myford acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	61.3%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	38.7%
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 Myford (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 39,633 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Myford components. The profile comes from the single largest Myford component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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