Soil Capabilities and Limitations

Here's Your Checklist: 

There are 44 soil types in Montgomery County, each with its own set of characteristics which affect the way land can be used.  Once you have identified the soil types on your property, refer to the county soil survey to learn about its characteristics and limitations.  These are some of the important questions to ask that are related to the soil properties on your site.  

1. What is the soil's drainage class?  Is there pooling of water on the surface after a rain? Wet or poorly drained soils require subsurface tile installation.  Montgomery SWCD does provide pre-construction drainage reviews.

2. Is there an adequate drainage outlet for curtain or footer drains? Any subsurface tile must have an approved outlet to a creek, drainage ditch, or grassed waterway.

3. Are there any sand and gravel subsoils?  These materials can't support the foundation of a house or other building. 

4. What is the clay content of the soil?  Clay particles expand when wet and contract when dry.  This creates a potential for cracking of foundations and basements.

5. What is the slope of the site?  Steeper slopes are prone to erosion.

6. Is type and depth of the soil suitable for trees, shrubs, grass, and gardens?

7. Will the lot meet health department requirements for on-site sewage disposal (septic system)?

8. Do foundations need to be raised to direct surface water away from buildings?

9. What is the depth to bedrock and the water table? If this is a shallow distance, special methods are needed for septic systems and basements.

A Crash Course on Soil Erosion

                 

Erosion occurs when beating rain and moving water dislodge and carry soil particles, organic matter and plant nutrients as they flow.  Erosion affects us directly and indirectly. Direct effects include the loss of valuable top soil, affecting how well plants can grow around your house; erosion near a home's foundation can undermine it. 

More indirectly, when this same soil is deposited where it isn't needed, it can cause serious problems by filling roadside ditches, plugging culverts and clogging our stream channels, impairing their use for flood control and wildlife habitat.  As taxpayers, we ALL pay for the harmful effects of erosion. 

Some factors affecting erosion include soil type, length and steepness of slopes, and the degree to which the soil has been disturbed.  Even small erosion problems require prompt attention, to keep them from becoming larger problems.  Be alert to these signs of erosion: excessively exposed tree roots, small stones or rocks appearing on the ground surface, small rills or gullies forming, built-up silt in certain areas, soil spashed on windows and outside walls. 

You can reduce erosion in your own yard by implementing a number of practices.  First, inventory your property for problem areas. In places where vegetation isn't growing, check first to see if there is sufficient soil nutrients and available light to support growth.  One possibility is to plant species that are well-adapted to low light or poor nutrient conditions. In areas of thin vegetation, fertilizer may promote fuller growth.  It's also worth considering use of non-plant materials where plants can't thrive.  Heavy foot traffic would best be handled by laying down gravel, mulch, or stepping stones.  For steep slopes, a number of attractive ground cover species are an option; structural solutions for very difficult slopes should be assessed by a trained engineer.