I think you are on the right track. I wouldn't weed and feed though at the same time. To be simiple I would follow scotts program but use fertilizer only. use dimension for the crabgrass in spring - as it tends to germinate at a different time to when you need to fertilize. And keep a bottle of weed b gon max for other weeds through out the year - just spray them. Then continue with what you do at summer and fall. i am going to top dress in fall and throw down some extra seed , that way the new grass wont have to compete with the weeds in spring. Hope that helps?

If you are curious about an inexpensive organic lawn care program, go to the Organic Gardening forum and find the FAQ. Near the bottom of the list is the Organic Lawn Care FAQ.

I topdress with compost periodically. I also generally use commercial organic fertilizers - milorganite and ringers. I think they are very effective.

So I should use scotts annual program and use compost. When should I use compost?

You aerate then throw the compost on at about 1/4 inch or so. Generally you would do this in the spring or fall when the lawn is not stressed. Not in the summer. I have had mixed luck using the free stuff from the municipal compost facility. When I lived in teh Albany area, the town I lived in had compost that was finely ground and pretty well decomposed. Here in teh Syracuse area, our free compost is basically mulch and crummy mulch at that. Lots of garabage in it. You might explore what you can get for free before deciding to buy it in bulk from a garden center.

Here'e what I do.

Scott's annual program
Weed killer when needed
Aerate only in fall

Is that ok or when should I compost?

I put out compost in the fall when I aerate. Compost is just aged organic matter that has been given time to break down.

Another good way to get organic matter to your soil is to use a mulching mower that chops up your grass clippings and leaves into fine enough bits that you don't have to rake afterwards. That materiel will break down over time and nourish your lawn.

Lawns fed with organic matter over the years tend to retain moisture better and rebound faster after a period of drought.

Mother Nature mulches in the fall. There must be a reason.