Thanks for doing some homework. Knowing where you live is very important. Had you read just a little more you would have read that tilling is not recommended for turf. The end result of tilling is the surface you have now - bumpy with bumps on the bumps. The reason is that a mere human cannot control a rototiller perfectly. It will buck, jump, and leap around as it hits rocks, roots, clods, and soft spots in the soil. You will tend to stop and let it chew and chew to pulverize the soil into a fine fluff. As it chews the weight of the machine will push the blades deeper into the soil leaving a pit. Then you'll push on and it will buck up over a root leaving an underground peak. Finally when you are finished, you will level the surface perfectly for planting. The problem comes when the fluffy soil settles. It will settle into the pits and away from the peaks leaving a bumpy surface once again. This settling process can take 3 years to finish. Thus the best approach for a flat lawn is to work completely at the surface. The best solution is to bring in a landscaper with a tractor and back blade. They will scrape the surface off leaving you with a perfect surface for planting either seed or sod. It takes much less than a morning to do that. Your area is only 1,800 square feet, so it might seem like you could level it yourself. I suppose it could be done like this. Rent a tool called a sod cutter. A sod cutter takes the surface layer of sod off the ground and leaves flat soil underneath. If you are really patient you might be able to do a really nice job with that. In the end what you want it bare soil but not tilled. Start at the highest high spots and work your way lower trying to feather your way down. You probably don't want it terraced. Now for more bad news. This is a poor time of year to seed. It is great for sod but not for seed. Why? Because the grass seed needs continual soil surface moisture for the next few weeks to germinate. So does crabgrass seed. Another reason is the roots on grass seed sprouted now will be unprepared for the summer heat. That is except for crabgrass which has been designed over the eons to sprout in spring and tolerate the summer heat. Sod is the best for use now because it was sprouted last fall (the best time of year for seeding northern grasses). But here you are and you need to do something. You can wait until fall when it is good to seed and do the entire project then. Or you can do it all now while your hot to do it and take your chances. If you do it now, you will likely need to reseed in the fall anyway because the crabgrass will have pushed out your spring grass. But at least you will have something even if it is crabgrass. If you do a good job seeding in the fall, you do not have to repeat the crabgrass routine every year. As described above, if you do not keep your soil moist all spring, then you will have little to no crabgrass issues next year. What is the 1,800 square feet area and what is the 2 acres area? Are you only doing the 1,800 square feet?

are you sure your not talking about Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)? Ponderosa Pine is a western species...not native to long island...hope you mean long island NY here. If you mean the Loblolly Pine they are dying out because of global warming. Sea levels are rising and salt water is starting to fill in underground freshwater aquifers along the coast. The rising sea levels are forcing water to the surface creating poor drainage and a higher pH. This is happening all along the atlantic coast by the way.

Waving at you from the other side of the pond... :) At least with this Nor'easter the wind isn't moving water into our sunroom! It's moving fast enough the winds will be out of the NNE by the time it gets wound up later tonight. DH went to the store late yesterday afternoon & said it was a zoo, as usual, before a storm. Our handyman also phoned yesterday & said he'd shovel/plow every 4-6" so guess we're all set. This morning, DH moved my still blooming pansies into the garage & drug in the brugmansia pots. HoHoHO, Merry Christmas! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... (I HATE the snow!) Sorry about your friend's father. Always hard, and even more so around the holidays. I also would vote to leave that mink at home if it's still snowing hard tomorrow afternoon but, I think, you'll be OK. The VHF is broadcasting the snow to end before 11 a.m. Stay safe. /tricia

I would wholeheartedly recommend Designscapes for all of your landscaping needs. They are a wonderful landscape design/build firm that can handle it all. They service ALL areas of Long Island & the staff & crew are top notch. Designscapes is an award-winning, full service, one-stop for all your outdoor living needs. They do pools & spas; masonry work including paver patios & walkways, walls & entry piers; carpentry decks, pergolas & cabanas; and a complete design & install service. They also offer seasonal maintenance programs to take care of tree & shrub pruning, dead heading of flowering plants, mulching & cleaning out of planting beds, fertilizing & weed control, etc. I've always found them to be reasonably priced compared to other landscaping companies here on Long island and they are very reputable & stand behind their work. You can visit their website for more information. Here is a link that might be useful: Designscapes - Long Island Landscape Design and Installation