Purves soil series

What this means

What Purves soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Purves soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.0 (most land between 8.0 and 8.2). Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).

Clayey topsoil covers 88% of mapped Purves 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 (52% of mapped Purves acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 88% 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 88% of the acres in mapped Purves soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (12% 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.