Soil series profile

Sandow soil series

Sandow is a moderately well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 60,286 acres in 6 counties in TX. Hydrologic group C.

#5179 by mapped area fine-loamy Udifluventic Haplustepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 6.5
Mapped area: 60k

Typical Sandow 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 Sandow horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (H1)	Loam	6.5	20%	42%	2.5%
6–72 in (H2)	Stratified loamy sand to clay loam	6.7	25%	40%	1.05%

Representative values from the most extensive Sandow map unit (Sandow loam, frequently flooded, survey area TX041). 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 Sandow soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Sandow soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.5 (most land between 6.5 and 7.5), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Sandow acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (96% of mapped Sandow acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 83% 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 Sandow 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.

Flooding is mapped on >99% of the acres (3% occasional, 97% 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 Sandow soil is found

Mapped acres

Sandow is mapped in Texas.

Counties with the most mapped Sandow soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Brazos County, TX	21,746	5.8%
Robertson County, TX	10,610	1.9%
Lee County, TX	9,965	2.5%
Van Zandt County, TX	9,105	1.7%
Burleson County, TX	6,457	1.5%
Milam County, TX	2,403	0.4%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Sandow acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Sandow acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.6%
Not rated	0.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Sandow acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 4.8 feet (57 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on >99% of acres (3% occasional, 97% frequent).
Slope: Typically 0–1% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 17%

Moderately well drained 84%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Sandow acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	16.5%
Moderately well drained	83.5%
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 17%

C: slow infiltration 83%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Sandow acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	16.5%
C: slow infiltration	83.1%
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	0.4%

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 Sandow (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 60,286 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Sandow components. The profile comes from the single largest Sandow component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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