DFW Soil Map
Understanding Your Soil for Better Irrigation
North Texas soils are dominated by expansive clays that directly affect irrigation scheduling, drainage performance, and underground pipe integrity. Use this interactive map to explore soil properties across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and make informed decisions about your irrigation system.
What the Map Shows
Hydrologic Group
USDA classification (A through D) indicating how quickly soil absorbs rainfall. Group A soils drain fast, while Group D soils — common across DFW — have very slow infiltration and produce heavy runoff.
Texture
The physical composition of the soil — clay, loam, sand, or combinations. Clay-heavy soils hold water longer but absorb it slowly, requiring shorter irrigation cycles with soak-in breaks.
Drainage Class
How quickly water moves through the soil profile. Poorly drained soils stay saturated longer and are more prone to standing water, making proper drainage system design critical.
Infiltration Rate (Ksat)
The saturated hydraulic conductivity — how fast water enters the soil. Low Ksat values mean you need to use cycle-and-soak irrigation to prevent runoff and waste.
Water Capacity (AWC)
Available Water Capacity measures how much moisture the soil can store for plants. Higher AWC means you can water less frequently because the soil holds moisture longer between cycles.
Shrink-Swell (LEP)
Linear Extensibility Potential measures how much the soil expands when wet and contracts when dry. High LEP is common in DFW and can shift underground pipes, crack foundations, and break irrigation lines.
Why Soil Type Matters for Irrigation
Infiltration Rate Affects Runtimes
Soils with low Ksat values — like the heavy clays found across most of DFW — cannot absorb water as fast as sprinkler heads apply it. Without cycle-and-soak programming, water runs off the lawn and into the street. Smart controllers use soil type data to automatically split runtimes into shorter cycles with soak periods in between.
Water Capacity Affects Frequency
Soils with high AWC store more moisture, so you can water less often. Clay soils typically have high AWC but slow intake — meaning when you do water, you need to apply it slowly, but you can go longer between watering days. Understanding this tradeoff is key to an efficient schedule.
Shrink-Swell Affects Pipes and Infrastructure
The expansive clay soils across North Texas have some of the highest LEP values in the country. This soil movement cracks PVC mainlines, shears pipe fittings at connection points, and shifts sprinkler heads out of alignment. Consistent irrigation actually helps by keeping soil moisture more stable, reducing the extreme expansion and contraction cycles.
Need Help Optimizing Irrigation for Your Soil Type?
Our technicians use local soil data to program smart controllers, design drainage solutions, and diagnose pipe failures caused by expansive clay. Book a consultation and we will tailor your system to your soil.
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