how to fertilize

As you all know, I am a natural girl. I utilize rain barrels for my watering needs, compost, recycle and try to make the most environmentally aware decisions in everything I do. So, I am always shocked when people ask me what type of synthetic fertilizers to use in gardening. Maybe it's because my backyard is a certified natural habitat, that I live near a stream, or that I have two storm drains in front of my house, that the thought of using lawn fertilizer or 10-10-10 makes me shutter.
I understand that companies make a lot of money on providing herbicides and insecticides with fertilizers as a sort of cure-all for making turf grow and somewhat thrive against its natural tendencies. Grass is a great ground cover when you meet all of its requirements. Often, however where we desire a lush, healthy lawn happens to be in a shady spot with poor soil. Where grass won't thrive, weeds certainly will.
Instead of reaching for a traditional lawn fertilizer at your local garden center-try compost. You can apply anytime of year, can't misapply, and don't have to fear runoff contaminating local water supplies. Compost also makes a great mulch and is 1/10th to cost of traditional lawn fertilizer. You need to be patient as using compost as a fertilizer doesn't yield immediate results, rather it works over time to enrich lawns and other plant material.
If you desire a healthy lawn and want to enrich the ecosystem around your yard as well as save some money, reach for compost instead of fertilizer.