Best Soil for Gardening in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 10 USDA soil survey areas, and they vary considerably in how friendly the ground is for growing things. We ranked every survey area by the percentage of well-drained soil — the single most important soil property for most garden plants.
At the top, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Western Part has 78% well-drained soils — conditions where most vegetables, herbs, and flowers can thrive with basic soil preparation. At the other end, Strafford County, New Hampshire comes in at 47%, meaning more of the landscape has drainage challenges that may require raised beds, soil amendments, or careful site selection for a productive garden.
Remember that these are area-wide averages. Even in a low-ranking survey area, individual properties can have excellent garden soil. Look up your specific address for exact conditions.
| # | Survey Area | Well-Drained Soils | Dominant Drainage | Dominant Soil Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Western Part | 78% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 2 | Grafton County, New Hampshire | 78% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 3 | Coos County Area, New Hampshire | 77% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 4 | Sullivan County, New Hampshire | 75% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 5 | Cheshire County, New Hampshire | 73% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 6 | Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire | 71% | Well drained | Inceptisols |
| 7 | Rockingham County, New Hampshire | 64% | Well drained | Inceptisols |
| 8 | Carroll County Area, New Hampshire | 63% | Well drained | Spodosols |
| 9 | Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Eastern Part | 62% | Well drained | Inceptisols |
| 10 | Strafford County, New Hampshire | 47% | Well drained | Inceptisols |