Stripping top soil

[changes]

Hi,

I have been advised to strip the topsoil of my site so it can rot and then I can spread it back over my garden when the house is complete, does anyone know how long it takes to rot?
If I stripped it now would it be ready to spread again by mid summer?

Thanks

 

[baldyman27]

I think it doesn't make much of a difference to be honest, that said you'll have to strip the topsoil anyway. Make sure that its relatively dry when you strip it as topsoil turns to pure s***e if you touch it when its wet and takes a long time to dry out. Also, when its heaped up, ensure that the guy on the digger 'batters' or smooths down the whole heap so that rainwater will run down off the heap instead of soaking down into it.

 

[changes]

Thanks for reply,

How long would it take for the grass to rot when its piled up?

 

[Clarelassie]

Hi changes,

The grass will have rotted by the time your house is built as during the summer months it rots a lot faster than in winter - how fast it rots depends on the temp of the mound and how well it is compacted. I know that for domestic composts there are agents you can add to help speed up the composting, but if you are just spreading it on existing grass, I wouldn't worry about that personally, but I am no expert.

 

[liamm]

Soil doesn't rot, it'll stay the same even if it is piled up in a heap. Its only the grass and vegetation you need to worry about. That'll compost down in a few months if it is covered over. However, if you are worried about it spray it off with Roundup first. This will kill everything including weeds which will help to reduce the number of weeds when you re-sown your new lawn. After spraying with roundup leave it for a week so as it is taken up by the vegetation, then you can clear the topsoil.