Soil series profile

Wheaton soil series

Wheaton is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 45,999 acres in 11 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.

#6318 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Udorthents (Entisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.5
Mapped area: 46k

Typical Wheaton 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 Wheaton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (H1)	Loam	7.5	17%	48%	0.88%
9–60 in (H2)	Loam	8.1	14%	50%	0.44%

Representative values from the most extensive Wheaton map unit (Wheaton-Glenelg complex, 2 to 7 percent slopes, survey area VA059). 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 Wheaton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Wheaton soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 5.3 and 7.5). 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).

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Wheaton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (70% of mapped Wheaton acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 77% 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 67% of the acres in mapped Wheaton soils very limited, 24% somewhat limited and 9% 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 Wheaton soil is found

Mapped acres

Wheaton is mapped in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

Counties with the most mapped Wheaton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Fairfax County, VA	29,370	13.1%
Montgomery County, MD	8,978	2.8%
New Castle County, DE	3,724	1.5%
Fairfax city, VA	1,061	31.1%
Cecil County, MD	745	0.4%
Baltimore County, MD	718	0.2%
Carroll County, MD	559	0.2%
Falls Church city, VA	433	37.4%
Prince George's County, MD	236	0.1%
Howard County, MD	151	0.1%
Alexandria city, VA	24	0.3%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Wheaton acres

Not limited 9%

Somewhat limited 24%

Very limited 67%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Wheaton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	8.8%
Somewhat limited	23.9%
Very limited	67.3%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Wheaton acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 2–11% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.9%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Wheaton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
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 23%

C: slow infiltration 77%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Wheaton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	22.6%
C: slow infiltration	77.4%
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%

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 Wheaton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 45,999 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Wheaton components. The profile comes from the single largest Wheaton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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