Soil series profile

Vancleave soil series

Vancleave is a moderately well drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 27,191 acres in 2 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#8824 by mapped area coarse-loamy Plinthic Fragiudults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.0
Mapped area: 27k

Typical Vancleave 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 Vancleave horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–11 in (H1)	Loamy sand	5.0	6%	80%	1.25%
11–22 in (H2)	Sandy loam	5.0	14%	56%	0.5%
22–51 in (H3)	Sandy loam	5.0	18%	67%	0.2%
51–90 in (H4)	Sandy clay loam	5.0	28%	52%	0.1%

Representative values from the most extensive Vancleave map unit (Vancleave loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area MS059). 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 Vancleave soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Vancleave soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0. 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.

Sandy topsoil covers 100% of mapped Vancleave acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy sand (100% of mapped Vancleave acres).

100% of mapped Vancleave 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 Vancleave 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 Vancleave soil is found

Mapped acres

Vancleave is mapped in Mississippi and Alabama.

Counties with the most mapped Vancleave soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Jackson County, MS	23,805	5.8%
Washington County, AL	3,386	0.5%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Vancleave acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Vancleave acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.2 feet (26 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 1–4% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Vancleave 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 88%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 13%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Vancleave acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	87.5%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	12.5%
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%

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 Vancleave (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 27,191 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Vancleave components. The profile comes from the single largest Vancleave component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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