Soil series profile

Woodbridge soil series

Woodbridge is a moderately well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 613,329 acres in 41 counties across 7 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#418 by mapped area coarse-loamy Aquic Dystrudepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class
Moderately well drained
>99% of mapped acres
Hydrologic group
C/D
95% of mapped acres
Typical topsoil pH
5.2
strongly acidic · range 4.8–5.2
Mapped area
613k
acres in 41 counties, 7 states

Typical Woodbridge profile

Texture and pH by depth

Typical Woodbridge soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 0–7 in · H1 · pH 4.8 · 7% clay Fine sandy loam 7–22 in · H2 · pH 4.8 · 7% clay Fine sandy loam 22–65 in · H3 · pH 4.8 · 7% clay Fine sandy loam
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 Woodbridge horizons (representative values)
Depth Texture pH Clay Sand Organic matter
0–7 in (H1) Fine sandy loam 4.8 7% 66% 4%
7–22 in (H2) Fine sandy loam 4.8 7% 66% 1.8%
22–65 in (H3) Fine sandy loam 4.8 7% 66% 0.2%

Representative values from the most extensive Woodbridge map unit (Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, survey area ME011). 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 Woodbridge soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Woodbridge soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.2 (most land between 4.8 and 5.2). 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.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 99% of mapped Woodbridge acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (95% of mapped Woodbridge acres).

>99% of mapped Woodbridge acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On >99% 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 43% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge soil is found

Mapped acres

Woodbridge is mapped in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire and New Jersey.

Counties with the most mapped Woodbridge soil
County Acres Share of county land
Worcester County, MA 80,347 8.3%
Kennebec County, ME 77,851 14.1%
Windham County, CT 53,080 16.2%
New London County, CT 39,673 9.1%
Bristol County, MA 37,990 10.6%
Litchfield County, CT 30,587 5.2%
Providence County, RI 30,166 11.1%
Fairfield County, CT 25,161 6.2%
Middlesex County, MA 20,909 4.0%
Tolland County, CT 18,880 7.2%
Cumberland County, ME 17,282 3.1%
Plymouth County, MA 14,712 3.5%
Westchester County, NY 13,757 5.2%
Hampden County, MA 12,883 3.3%
Essex County, MA 12,457 3.9%
New Haven County, CT 11,761 3.0%
Middlesex County, CT 11,652 4.8%
Hampshire County, MA 11,295 3.2%
Hartford County, CT 9,155 2.0%
Norfolk County, MA 8,996 6.4%
Suffolk County, MA 8,996 6.4%
Rockingham County, NH 7,775 1.7%
Androscoggin County, ME 6,936 2.3%
Franklin County, MA 6,883 1.5%
Strafford County, NH 6,881 2.9%
Fulton County, NY 6,834 2.2%
Merrimack County, NH 6,532 1.1%
Washington County, RI 6,486 3.0%
Putnam County, NY 5,263 3.6%
Kent County, RI 4,766 4.1%
Hillsborough County, NH 2,982 0.5%
Belknap County, NH 1,328 0.5%
Sagadahoc County, ME 1,068 0.7%
Saratoga County, NY 650 0.1%
Bristol County, RI 519 3.0%
Newport County, RI 367 0.5%
Bronx County, NY 362 1.4%
Rockland County, NY 64 0.1%
Warren County, NY 43 0.0%
Queens County, NY 3 0.0%
Passaic County, NJ 0 0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Woodbridge acres

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited >99%
Not rated <1%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Woodbridge acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Woodbridge acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited99.6%
Not rated0.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Woodbridge acres

Depth to seasonal high water table
About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 43% of acres.
Flooding
Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope
Typically 4–9% (median 6%).
Topsoil organic matter
Median 7%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%
Somewhat excessively drained 0%
Well drained 0%
Moderately well drained >99%
Somewhat poorly drained 0%
Poorly drained 0%
Very poorly drained 0%
Not rated <1%
Drainage class across mapped Woodbridge acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Woodbridge acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.0%
Moderately well drained99.8%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%
Not rated0.2%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 5%
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 95%
Not rated <1%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Woodbridge acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Woodbridge acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration4.8%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained94.8%
Not rated0.4%

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 Woodbridge (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 613,329 acres.
Method
Shares are by mapped acres of Woodbridge components. The profile comes from the single largest Woodbridge component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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