Soil series profile

Wilkes soil series

Wilkes is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 477,645 acres in 78 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group D.

#611 by mapped area loamy Typic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 478k

Typical Wilkes 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 Wilkes horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–7 in (Ap)	Sandy loam	6.0	13%	68%	1.25%
7–10 in (Bt)	Sandy clay loam	6.2	30%	56%	0.25%
10–30 in (Cr)	Weathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
30–79 in (R)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Wilkes map unit (Wilkes soils, 15 to 40 percent slopes, survey area SC087). 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 Wilkes soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Wilkes soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8 (most land between 5.5 and 6.0). Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 96% of mapped Wilkes acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (73% of mapped Wilkes acres).

100% of mapped Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes soil is found

Mapped acres

Wilkes is mapped in South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama. The 60 counties with the most Wilkes acres:

Counties with the most mapped Wilkes soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Union County, SC	61,405	18.9%
Laurens County, SC	51,575	11.6%
Prince Edward County, VA	47,518	24.6%
Mecklenburg County, NC	23,579	7.4%
York County, SC	21,801	5.0%
Jones County, GA	21,055	8.4%
Cherokee County, SC	18,997	7.6%
Putnam County, GA	17,875	8.2%
McCormick County, SC	17,103	7.6%
Nottoway County, VA	15,427	8.9%
Campbell County, VA	15,388	5.1%
Lynchburg city, VA	15,388	5.1%
Charlotte County, VA	14,730	5.8%
Greenwood County, SC	13,828	5.2%
Baldwin County, GA	11,690	7.1%
Abbeville County, SC	9,588	3.2%
Upson County, GA	8,228	4.1%
Bibb County, GA	6,795	4.3%
Lancaster County, SC	6,556	1.9%
Randolph County, NC	5,940	1.3%
Guilford County, NC	5,275	1.4%
Jasper County, GA	5,114	2.2%
Vance County, NC	4,867	3.1%
Gaston County, NC	4,603	2.2%
Paulding County, GA	4,550	2.4%
Person County, NC	4,102	1.7%
Talbot County, GA	3,277	1.3%
Elbert County, GA	2,774	1.2%
Wilkes County, GA	2,640	0.9%
Monroe County, GA	2,556	1.2%
Saluda County, SC	2,291	0.8%
Spartanburg County, SC	2,013	0.4%
DeKalb County, GA	2,012	1.2%
Newberry County, SC	2,012	0.6%
Franklin County, NC	1,882	0.6%
Stephens County, GA	1,585	1.4%
Hancock County, GA	1,486	0.5%
Fluvanna County, VA	1,382	0.9%
Cherokee County, GA	1,315	0.5%
Carroll County, GA	1,265	0.4%
Wake County, NC	1,263	0.2%
Cobb County, GA	1,110	0.5%
Heard County, GA	1,045	0.6%
Taliaferro County, GA	996	0.8%
Orange County, NC	881	0.4%
Banks County, GA	870	0.6%
Haralson County, GA	795	0.4%
Randolph County, AL	784	0.2%
Durham County, NC	769	0.4%
Lincoln County, GA	765	0.6%
Troup County, GA	725	0.3%
Douglas County, GA	645	0.5%
Rowan County, NC	640	0.2%
Coweta County, GA	525	0.2%
Harris County, GA	517	0.2%
Chilton County, AL	467	0.1%
Spalding County, GA	430	0.3%
Tallapoosa County, AL	416	0.1%
Fairfield County, SC	371	0.1%
Gwinnett County, GA	306	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Wilkes acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Wilkes 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 10–28% (median 20%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Wilkes 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 0%

C: slow infiltration 7%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 93%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Wilkes acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	6.9%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	93.1%
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 Wilkes (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 477,645 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Wilkes components. The profile comes from the single largest Wilkes component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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