Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: Lawn destroyed during construction, 0 by otherrealm123

otherrealm123 wrote:
Our house was fully renovated a year ago but unfortunately the front yard was pretty much destroyed in the process. Where do we even begin in restoring the lawn? Never done this before so I don’t know much about establishing grass.

I’m hesitant to use a rototiller because there are surface roots from the maple tree around the yard and I don’t want to injure them, but the soil has eroded and definitely needs to be filled in. Is a rototiller even necessary?

It was recommended we get a soil test that will determine any amendments needed but then what? Some annual crabgrass filled in the whole yard last summer but has since died. It seems that the best time to seed a lawn is late summer/early fall, so I\'m not sure if we should wait or not- it wouldn\'t be great living with the yard the way it is for another summer.

Is it wise to try and seed right now? Or is there anything else we should do right now? A step by step explanation would be helpful. Thanks!

We are in northern New Jersey. The yard slopes downward toward the house (house sits below street level). Not super steep, but a definite slope. First photo is from last spring, second is from last summer when crabgrass grew in. It now is back to basically looking like it did last spring