Little is known about the hydraulic fracturing of soil, although the technique holds potential for several environmental engineering applications. The dissertation research consists of laboratory experiments, where hydraulic fractures were created by injecting dyed glycerin into colluvium contained in a triaxial pressure cell, and a field test, where hydraulic fractures were created by injecting guar gum gel at shallow depths in glacial drift. The laboratory tests showed that hydraulic fractures are readily created in clayey-silt colluvium. Furthermore, hydraulic fractures created in soil with positive pore pressure were filled with two fluids: one injected to create the fracture, and pore fluid that infiltrates into the fracture tip. The length of the infiltrated tip increases with increasing fracture length.