ANR-0966 Soil Descriptions and Plant Selections for the Montgomery/Prattville/Wetumpka Area
Soil Descriptions and Plant Selections for the Montgomery/Prattville/Wetumpka Area
ANR-0966 Revised June 2006. This publication was prepared by Charles C. Mitchell, Extension Agronomist, Professor, Agronomy and Soils; Donn Rodekohr, Agricultural Program Associate, and Shane Harris, Regional Extension Agent.
Urban development in parts of Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties in Central Alabama has
occurred on a diversity of soils unlike any other region of the South. Soils in the Montgomery/Prattville/
Wetumpka metropolitan area include sandy and loamy upland soils of the Coastal Plain; alluvial terraces and poorly drained floodplains of the Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers; and alkaline and acid, clayey soils of the Alabama Black Belt prairie region. New residents on these soils may find challenges when selecting landscape plants that will do well on their particular soil. Some may encounter problems with drainage, building foundations, and on-site wastewater disposal. This map and plant selection information may help homeowners and gardeners select the best landscape plants for their site and soil.
Clayey, Alkaline Soils
Soils in this group have a pH above 7.0. They may have a shallow olive gray, clayey topsoil overlying
Selma Chalk, which is a soft limestone containing mostly calcium carbonate. Runoff can be rapid on
slopes, resulting in a high erosion hazard. These soils have moderately slow to slow infiltration and permeability and moderately high capacity for holding available moisture. These soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, resulting in large cracks forming during dry spells. They are good for small pond construction, but present problems for septic tank field lines because they perk very slowly.
Native vegetation includes grasses, deciduous shrubs, red cedar (juniper), and mixed hardwood trees.
Hardwood trees do poorly on sites where the chalk is within 12 inches of the surface. Pines do not grow well on these soils. Trees that do well include eastern red cedar, live oak, white oak, ash, hackberry, crabapple, redbud, and crape myrtle. Bermudagrass is an excellent lawn grass for sunny areas. Zoysia and St. Augustine will tolerate some shade. In the landscape, avoid using acid-loving plants such as azalea, blueberry, hydrangea, gardenia, camellia, and centipedegrass. Landscape plants that do well include most junipers, ornamental grasses, Chinese hollies, yaupon hollies, nandina, euonymuses, ligustrums, wax myrtles, oleanders, eleagnus, buddleias, and winter honeysuckles. Raised beds aid drainage and prevent drowning of young plants during wet weather.
Clayey-Acid Soils
These soils have a natural pH below 7.0. Several feet of acid, clayey soil may overlie alkaline Selma
Chalk. For garden vegetables and some ornamentals, lime may be needed if the soil pH is below 5.5. These soils have slow water infiltration and slow permeability but a high water-holding capacity. They may be very sticky during wet weather. Like the clayey, alkaline soils, they may swell in wet weather and shrink in dry weather, forming large cracks. These soils are well suited to pond construction but present problems for septic tank filter fields and structural foundations.
Plants, such as azalea, that have a shallow root system and require well-drained soils do not grow well on
these soils. All warm-season, perennial turfgrasses will grow on these soils. Pine trees will grow on the better drained sites, but white oaks, red oaks, pecans, and other deciduous trees make better landscape trees. Most landscape plants and gardens benefit from raised beds.
Loamy, Well-Drained Soils
These soils are naturally acid and will require liming and fertilizing according to a soil test for most
landscape plants and garden crops. A reddish orange subsoil color is one indication of a well-drained soil.
Surface soils could be sandy to clayey, but all are low in soil organic matter and benefit from generous and
frequent applications of organic matter, compost, and mulches. These soils have many uses with low risk of erosion, leaching, or structural failure. They have no limitations or only slight limitations for small structures, streets, landscaping, and septic tank filter fields.
Most landscape and garden plants associated with the southern United States will grow well if properly
cultivated. Acid-loving plants requiring a well-drained soil do well with reasonable management. These
plants include azalea, blueberry, camellia, gardenia, hydrangea, centipedegrass, and pine trees.
Poorly Drained Soils
These soils are mostly level and may range from sandy to clayey. They remain saturated for most of the
year. Many are in the floodplains of major rivers or streams. Excessive wetness limits the use of these soils, but they provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Drainage is required for most uses other than woodland and wildlife habitat.
Mixed Acid and Alkaline Soils
These are small areas with mixed soils of the first three groups. The nature of a soil at any location may
be identified by digging a hole about 3 feet deep and observing changes in the soil horizons, or layers. A
surface soil test will determine if the soil is acid or alkaline. Consulting a detailed soil map may be helpful
for large tracts of land.
Unclassified Land
These are government properties, disturbed land, or other areas that have not been mapped and are not available for development.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and
home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related
acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal
opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.
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