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Topsoil supports soil microbial communities; links abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems through nutrient cycling and energy flow; and provides a source of seeds for future restoration needs. Topsoil is vulnerable to disturbance associated with energy production. A common management recommendation is to stockpile topsoil for future use. Greenhouse studies of seedbank dynamics of stock-piled topsoils over an 18-mo period suggest that variability in seedling emergence is more closely related to the season when a stockpile was created and then sampled, as well as the immediately-preceding climatic conditions, than the age of the stock-pile per se. In general, seedbank species diversity was unaffected by sampling time and depth and species richness and numbers of emerged seedlings decreased with increased depth in the stock-pile. In comparisons of soil microbial communities between stockpiles and adjacent undisturbed intact soils, microbial community size decreased with increasing sample depth in undisturbed soil but did not change by depth in stockpiles; furthermore, microbial community size was generally smaller at a 0-10-cm depth in stock-piles compared to intact soil. Microbial communities also generally differed in winter months and summer months. Stripping and stock-piling topsoil generally results in loss of spatial organization of microbial biomass. These factors are important considerations in restoration practices that involve topsoil. For example, following pipeline construction topsoil can be mixed with subsoil, creating mixed soil with characteristics that can be unfavorable for plant growth. Chances for restoration success can be improved by ameliorating harsh environmental conditions at the soil surface use mulching material that reduces extremes in soil surface temperature and can reduce soil water loss, two conditions that are important in seed germination and early seedling establishment. Humic substances have minimal effects on early seedling establishment and on soil nutrients 26 months post application. Selection of locally-adapted species is essential.