We evaluated the heavy metals content and edaphic conditions in three most common types of oak forests affected by different degree of drying. Meadow black soil was indicated as a dominant systemic soil unit. Content of silt+clay fraction was above 60%, and two major textural classes were loam and clayey loam. The content of hardly available water was the highest in all types of forests with the most prominent drying process (ranging from 21.65 to 24.13%). Chemical soil properties varied only slightly, and the most prominent deviations were related to the content and ratio of carbon and nitrogen. Very high content of nickel was found in all types of forests affected by different degrees of drying.