Soil series profile

Winder soil series

Winder is a poorly drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 204,191 acres in 25 counties in FL. Hydrologic group C/D.

#1771 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Glossaqualfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class
Poorly drained
70% of mapped acres
Hydrologic group
C/D
94% of mapped acres
Typical topsoil pH
6.6
neutral · range 6.1–7.0
Mapped area
204k
acres in 25 counties, 1 state

Typical Winder profile

Texture and pH by depth

Typical Winder soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 0–6 in · A · pH 7.0 · 6% clay Loamy sand 6–12 in · E · pH 6.7 · 3% clay Sand 12–33 in · Btg1 · pH 7.5 · 24% clay Sandy clay loam 33–49 in · Btg2 · pH 7.9 · 19% clay Sandy loam 49–61 in · Cg1 · pH 7.9 · 11% clay Loamy sand 61–80 in · Cg2 · pH 7.9 · 6% clay Sand
Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).
Show as a table
Typical Winder horizons (representative values)
Depth Texture pH Clay Sand Organic matter
0–6 in (A) Loamy sand 7.0 6% 85% 5.2%
6–12 in (E) Sand 6.7 3% 93% 0.45%
12–33 in (Btg1) Sandy clay loam 7.5 24% 71% 0.35%
33–49 in (Btg2) Sandy loam 7.9 19% 77% 0.17%
49–61 in (Cg1) Loamy sand 7.9 11% 84% 0.12%
61–80 in (Cg2) Sand 7.9 6% 92% 0.08%

Representative values from the most extensive Winder map unit (Winder loamy sand, survey area FL111). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Hands holding dark garden soil
Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Winder soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Winder soils is neutral: pH 6.6 (most land between 6.1 and 7.0), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Sandy topsoil covers 100% of mapped Winder 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 fine sand (62% of mapped Winder acres).

100% of mapped Winder acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.

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.

A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 100% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Winder 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 18% of the acres (0% occasional, 18% 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 Winder soil is found

Mapped acres

Winder is mapped in Florida.

Counties with the most mapped Winder soil
County Acres Share of county land
St. Lucie County, FL 37,667 9.9%
Hillsborough County, FL 33,511 5.0%
Flagler County, FL 21,774 7.0%
Indian River County, FL 18,152 5.4%
Hendry County, FL 17,450 2.3%
Collier County, FL 13,360 1.8%
Brevard County, FL 12,900 1.6%
Charlotte County, FL 11,723 2.6%
Martin County, FL 7,352 2.1%
St. Johns County, FL 6,264 1.6%
Osceola County, FL 5,682 0.7%
Palm Beach County, FL 5,592 0.4%
Polk County, FL 4,889 0.4%
Putnam County, FL 3,172 0.7%
Volusia County, FL 2,045 0.3%
Lee County, FL 1,485 0.3%
Sarasota County, FL 448 0.1%
Highlands County, FL 207 0.0%
Okeechobee County, FL 128 0.0%
Glades County, FL 94 0.0%
Manatee County, FL 67 0.0%
Hardee County, FL 63 0.0%
Pinellas County, FL 61 0.0%
DeSoto County, FL 56 0.0%
Alachua County, FL 49 0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Winder acres

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited 100%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Winder acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Winder acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Winder acres

Depth to seasonal high water table
About 6 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 100% of acres.
Flooding
Mapped as flooding on 18% of acres (0% occasional, 18% frequent).
Slope
Typically 0–1% (median 1%).
Topsoil organic matter
Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%
Somewhat excessively drained 0%
Well drained 0%
Moderately well drained 0%
Somewhat poorly drained 0%
Poorly drained 70%
Very poorly drained 30%
Drainage class across mapped Winder acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Winder acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.0%
Moderately well drained0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained69.6%
Very poorly drained30.4%

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 <1%
B/D: D as is, B if drained 6%
C/D: D as is, C if drained 94%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Winder acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Winder acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration0.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.2%
B/D: D as is, B if drained6.2%
C/D: D as is, C if drained93.6%

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 Winder (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 204,191 acres.
Method
Shares are by mapped acres of Winder components. The profile comes from the single largest Winder component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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