Sandy soils are light and typically very free draining, usually holding water very poorly due to very low organic content. Loam soils are somewhat heavier than sandy soils, but also tend to be fairly free draining, again, due to typically low organic content. Clay soils are very common in certain areas, particularly around urban areas where fill soils have been used to establish grade in subdivisions and developments. Clay soils are not typically free draining, and water tends to take a long time to infiltrate. When wet, such soils tend to allow virtually all water to run-off.
Clay soils tend to be heavy and difficult to work when dry.