Soil series profile

Ragmuff soil series

Ragmuff is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 684,011 acres in 16 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#349 by mapped area coarse-loamy Aquic Haplorthods (Spodosols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C/D
Typical topsoil pH: 3.9
Mapped area: 684k

Typical Ragmuff 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 Ragmuff horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (Oe)	Moderately decomposed plant material	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	53%
2–4 in (E)	Silt loam	3.9	10%	31%	2.61%
4–19 in (Bs)	Silt loam	4.9	10%	40%	4.3%
19–27 in (BC)	Gravelly loam	5.2	12%	39%	2.1%
27–33 in (Cd)	Channery silt loam	5.1	15%	35%	0.9%
33–79 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Ragmuff map unit (Telos-Chesuncook-Ragmuff association, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very stony, survey area ME621). 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 Ragmuff soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Ragmuff soils is extremely acidic: pH 3.9 (most land between 3.9 and 4.2). 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 100% of mapped Ragmuff acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (91% of mapped Ragmuff acres).

100% of mapped Ragmuff 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 100% of the acres in mapped Ragmuff 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 Ragmuff soil is found

Mapped acres

Ragmuff is mapped in Maine and New Hampshire.

Counties with the most mapped Ragmuff soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Aroostook County, ME	294,607	6.9%
Piscataquis County, ME	177,237	7.1%
Somerset County, ME	112,813	4.4%
Penobscot County, ME	51,256	2.4%
Washington County, ME	17,882	1.1%
Kennebec County, ME	6,478	1.2%
Franklin County, ME	5,129	0.5%
Oxford County, ME	4,988	0.4%
Cumberland County, ME	3,086	0.5%
Hancock County, ME	3,059	0.3%
Sagadahoc County, ME	2,597	1.6%
Androscoggin County, ME	1,910	0.6%
Coos County, NH	1,321	0.1%
Lincoln County, ME	699	0.2%
Knox County, ME	622	0.3%
Waldo County, ME	328	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Ragmuff acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Ragmuff acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Ragmuff acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 1.5 feet (18 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 3% of acres.
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 5–8% (median 8%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.6%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Ragmuff 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 0%

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 100%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Ragmuff acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Ragmuff acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	0.0%
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	100.0%

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 Ragmuff (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 684,011 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Ragmuff components. The profile comes from the single largest Ragmuff component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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