Soil Location Info
Find the Iowa location where you want to plant trees. Zoom in and click the exact spot where a tree would go to see its mapped soil type and preliminary hardwood planting notes.
Choose a planting spot on the map.
Trees by planting position
- Dry ground: Bur oak.
- Side slopes or moderately moist, drained ground: White oak and chinkapin oak.
- Bottoms of hills, moist but still drained: Shellbark hickory and pecan.
We do not plant in standing water or persistently saturated soil. New seedlings need adequate water, even trees suited to dry ground.
Data sources and limits
Soil polygons: USDA NRCS / Iowa State University GIS. Soil names: USDA Soil Data Access.
A click identifies a survey map unit, not a soil test at that planting hole. Boundaries and GPS positions are approximate. The tree list is general guidance, not a suitability rating for the clicked spot. Check drainage, seasonal wetness, rooting depth, sunlight, and soil pH in person.
Coordinates are sent to the soil providers when queried; device location is requested only when you press Use my location. This page does not save planting locations. Basemap providers receive map tile requests.