The yard is a mess. Lots of rocks and uneven. I'm sure the soil is terrible as the contractor surely stripped the topsoil. They did hydroseed in the fall and there is a little grass but a lot more rocks, divets, and uneveness. Not sure what to do come spring. I'll start with a soil sample but don't know if i need to till, regraid and reseed, or aerate, fertilize and roll, or something else. I can't imagine the yard will eventually even out and grow around those rocks on its own.

I Realize this process will be measured in years, but not sure where to start. Don't think I can afford two acres of topsoil all at once. I almost wish they wouldn't have seeded as it would be much easier to prep the soil and grade. Thanks

The landscaper needs to rake out the rocks. He'll use a rake on the back of a tractor. If he shows up with a skid steer or a bobcat, he's not a pro. This is a job for a real tractor. Then he needs to use a tractor with a landscaper's blade, also called a box blade, to grade the surface of the soil. If you need more (or less) soil, he'll do that for you to make your yard drain properly. This is not a job for newbies to take on. Get several estimates but only get estimates from landscapers who will use tractors. For 2 acres the entire job should take about a full day. He'll have to run the tractor over it once for the rocks and once to grade it. If he has to haul much away or bring it in, that adds time, too. Two days at the maximum unless he has a lot of trees to drive around. Anyone who tries to use a bobcat for a job like this will give you an estimate of a week or so. They all get paid by the hour so you can figure that out pretty easily.

Tilling is overrated. It is the fastest way to get back what you are trying to get rid of, unevenness.

Whether you have any topsoil left or not, you will have plenty soon enough. Unless your soil has been poisoned by something, simply growing grass in it will bring back the microscopic critters that create topsoil. If you want to speed things up, topdress the grass with compost every now and then. Using organic fertilizer is another way to regain your topsoil quickly.

It did an effective job on the rocks and then he leveled things out before the seed, fertilizer and hay went down.

It took roughly 3 years and alot of work to get what I would call an established lawn. But it looks great.