Soil series profile

Pledger soil series

Pledger is a moderately well drained soil with a clay surface, mapped on 233,769 acres in 8 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#1499 by mapped area very-fine Typic Hapluderts (Vertisols)

Drainage class
Moderately well drained
100% of mapped acres
Hydrologic group
D
93% of mapped acres
Typical topsoil pH
7.0
neutral · range 7.0–7.0
Mapped area
234k
acres in 8 counties, 2 states

Typical Pledger profile

Texture and pH by depth

Typical Pledger soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 0–17 in · A · pH 7.0 · 70% clay Clay 17–52 in · Bss · pH 7.2 · 73% clay Clay 52–67 in · Bkss1 · pH 7.7 · 53% clay Silty clay 67–80 in · Bkss2 · pH 7.7 · 55% clay Silty clay
Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).
Show as a table
Typical Pledger horizons (representative values)
Depth Texture pH Clay Sand Organic matter
0–17 in (A) Clay 7.0 70% 2% 6.5%
17–52 in (Bss) Clay 7.2 73% 1% 3.5%
52–67 in (Bkss1) Silty clay 7.7 53% 2% 0.4%
67–80 in (Bkss2) Silty clay 7.7 55% 1% 0.33%

Representative values from the most extensive Pledger map unit (Pledger clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded, survey area TX039). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Hands holding dark garden soil
Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Pledger soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Pledger soils is neutral: pH 7.0, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Clayey topsoil covers 93% of mapped Pledger acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is clay (93% of mapped Pledger acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 93% 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 93% of the acres in mapped Pledger soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (7% 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.

Flooding is mapped on >99% of the acres (4% occasional, <1% frequent).

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 Pledger soil is found

Mapped acres

Pledger is mapped in Texas and Oklahoma.

Counties with the most mapped Pledger soil
County Acres Share of county land
Brazoria County, TX 118,551 13.0%
Matagorda County, TX 64,235 9.1%
Fort Bend County, TX 27,876 5.0%
Wharton County, TX 18,786 2.7%
Waller County, TX 1,337 0.4%
Bryan County, OK 1,299 0.2%
Austin County, TX 1,279 0.3%
Colorado County, TX 407 0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Pledger acres

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited 93%
Not rated 7%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Pledger acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Pledger acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited93.3%
Not rated6.7%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Pledger acres

Depth to seasonal high water table
None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding
Mapped as flooding on >99% of acres (4% occasional, <1% frequent).
Slope
Typically 0–0% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter
Median 6.5%.

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 Pledger acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Pledger acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.0%
Moderately well drained100.0%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 93%
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 7%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Pledger acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Pledger acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration0.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)93.3%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained0.0%
Not rated6.7%

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 Pledger (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 233,769 acres.
Method
Shares are by mapped acres of Pledger components. The profile comes from the single largest Pledger component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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