Cutting-edge, from ballyard to backyard
David Mellor paces in the left-field grandstand at Fenway Park, anxiously watching the field and answering a flurry of phone calls as storm clouds gather overhead. As Fenway's director of grounds, he will decide exactly when his crew will roll out the tarp that protects the infield from rain.
"Let's not put it on till we have to," he says into his phone.
On sunnier days, Mellor oversees Fenway's fleet of about a dozen lawnmowers, which are put to use every day when the Red Sox are in town and keep the grass at a playing height of about 1.25 inches.
When choosing a lawnmower for your home, Mellor recommends starting with the basics: the size of your lawn and whether you prefer to ride or walk. His crew at Fenway uses tractor-style lawnmowers of different sizes made by Simplicity -- with whom Mellor has an endorsement deal -- and Toro, and also keeps one Snapper walk-behind model.
Walk-behind mowers are generally recommended for lawns of up to three-quarters of an acre, said Troy Blewett, spokesman for Milwaukee-based Simplicity Manufacturing. They can be either pushed or self-propelled, meaning that they only need to be gently guided around the lawn. Unless you prefer to use a bag, many models will discharge clippings out the side, or chop them into a finer mulch that can help fertilize the lawn.
Riding mowers generally have larger engines and blades, and can be equipped with other attachments such as tillers or snow blowers.
When shopping for any mower, Bob Mackey, riding equipment buyer for Sears, suggested paying attention to the quality of the engine, the cutting deck that holds the blades, and the blades themselves. The three parts are meant to work together, he said. Sears recommends a 38- to 42-inch deck for a 1-acre lot, a 42- to 48-inch deck for 1 to 2 acres, and a 46- to 54-inch deck for anything larger.
Riding mowers usually have double-cylinder engines, Blewett said. They are measured in horsepower, while walk-behind mowers are measured by torque rating. Higher power levels and torque ratings typically mean the mower will perform more efficiently.
Many mowers are powered by gas. Electric models tend to be more effective on smaller lots, Blewett said.
Mellor offers an additional piece of advice. "What's important . . . is that you have sharp blades," he said. Dull blades won't cut as cleanly, which could cause the grass to dry and fray, he said. At home in Norfolk, Mellor uses a riding mower by Simplicity -- one of the same models used at Fenway -- to maintain his half-acre lawn.
Mellor's crew also uses large Toro mowers with 6-foot reel blades, which can get a closer cut than rotary blades, he said. Reel blades are less common on home lawnmowers, unless you opt for an older, nonmotorized push model. Those can be effective on smaller lots, Blewett said, as long as the blades are frequently sharpened.
A popular option is the "zero turn" mower, which is steered with two handles and can pivot in different directions.
Lawnmowers are an investment. A standard walk-behind by Sears Craftsman brand sells for about $250, while zero-turn models start above $1,000, said spokesman Larry Costello. Simplicity's riding mowers can easily reach $10,000, Blewett said. But a lawnmower should last for decades with proper maintenance.
And mowing the lawn shouldn't necessarily be seen as a chore. Mellor is known for inscribing elaborate patterns such as flags and socks into Fenway's outfield, an effect achieved by using rollers to flatten the grass in different directions. He said it's a technique that people can easily experiment with at home.
"I think patterns are a great way to express yourself," he said.
