State soil summary
Soil types in Kentucky
The most widespread soil series in Kentucky are Shelocta, Eden, Lowell. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 89% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.9 moderately acidic · most land 5.0–6.7
- Septic fields very limited
- 79% <1% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 12% of land, any frequency
Kentucky counties
5 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Crider | 50% | 5.9 | 45% |
| Fayette County | Maury | 91% | 6.5 | 71% |
| Kenton County | Eden | 93% | 6.0 | 91% |
| Warren County | Baxter | 89% | 5.6 | 55% |
| Boone County | Rossmoyne | 95% | 5.9 | 89% |
What this means
What Kentucky soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Kentucky is moderately acidic: pH 5.9 (most land between 5.0 and 6.7). 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 85% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (55% of the land).
89% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 51% of the land, 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 septic systems
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 79% of the land in Kentucky very limited, 11% somewhat limited and <1% not limited (10% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).
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 12% of the land (7% occasional, 4% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Statewide mix
Share of all mapped land
Drainage
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.2% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 1.7% |
| Well drained | 72.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 15.2% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 4.9% |
| Poorly drained | 2.2% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.1% |
| Not rated | 3.5% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.1% |
| Somewhat limited | 10.6% |
| Very limited | 79.4% |
| Not rated | 10.0% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 27.2% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 45.9% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 15.7% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 1.2% |
| Not reported | 10.0% |
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
- Kentucky: 25,305,616 acres of mapped land in 120 counties, pooled (not an average of county figures).
- Method
- Shares are by mapped land area: each map unit’s acres in the county times each soil component’s percentage. Open water is excluded. Topsoil values use the first mineral horizon of each component. Full methodology.