State soil summary
Soil types in Maryland
The most widespread soil series in Maryland are Glenelg, Othello, Woodstown. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 70% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.4 strongly acidic · most land 4.3–6.3
- Septic fields very limited
- 85% <1% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 10% of land, any frequency
Maryland counties
10 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Glenelg | 82% | 5.4 | 84% |
| Prince George's County | Marr | 70% | 4.7 | 76% |
| Baltimore County | Glenelg | 75% | 5.4 | 71% |
| Anne Arundel County | Annapolis | 66% | 5.0 | 77% |
| Howard County | Glenelg | 80% | 5.4 | 77% |
| Frederick County | Mt. Airy | 87% | 5.6 | 75% |
| Harford County | Glenelg | 83% | 5.3 | 79% |
| Carroll County | Glenelg | 87% | 5.4 | 77% |
| Charles County | Beltsville | 69% | 4.3 | 97% |
| Washington County | Hagerstown | 89% | 6.3 | 62% |
What this means
What Maryland soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Maryland is strongly acidic: pH 5.4 (most land between 4.3 and 6.3). 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 78% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (29% of the land).
70% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 60% 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 25% of the land, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For septic systems
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 85% of the land in Maryland very limited, 8% somewhat limited and <1% not limited (7% 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 10% of the land (3% occasional, 8% 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 | 1.3% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 1.9% |
| Well drained | 48.1% |
| Moderately well drained | 18.2% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 4.5% |
| Poorly drained | 12.9% |
| Very poorly drained | 6.3% |
| Not rated | 6.8% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.5% |
| Somewhat limited | 7.6% |
| Very limited | 85.4% |
| Not rated | 6.5% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 50.9% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 33.6% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 7.0% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 7.5% |
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
- Maryland: 6,204,950 acres of mapped land in 24 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.