Hi all - I am new the the forum. Last spring I took out a number of trees and brought in 150 yards of fill to level a back yard. The contractor, it seems, placed 4 or so inches of topsoil in some locations and only 1 to 1.5 inches in others (based on resistance I receive hammering a 12 inch landscape nail into the ground--or at least trying). Where the ground is compacted at 1.5 inches, the grass is dying out. Where the compaction is at 4 inches, the grass is thriving. See photos.

My options, as I see it, are: (1) aerate; (2) aerate and topdress (not sure with what); (3) bring in 3 inches of topsoil and start over.

Keep in mind it is very difficult to work the aerator over the compacted areas, do I need this professionally done? I used a gas powered 3 inch core aerator from a rental company last time. Any advice? (Asking the contractor to fix it isn't an option.)