The Lawn Bible

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View books by David R. Mellor.

Targeted for an American Audience - Rated
This book is American, and as such is full of Americanisms, right down to referring to turf as sod. Helpful hints include the suggestion that if Sunday morning is the only time you can cut your grass then you should bake cinammon rolls to appease the neighbours. (Where did I put that vomit bag?)

I didn't like the style or the presentation of this book. There were anecdotal infills from groundsmen of USA football fields and the like which were of little relevance or interest to a British reader. If you want a UK biased book about lawncare I would recommend The Lawn Expert which some regard as a bible.

Lots of good info - Rated
Most home owners, even non-gardeners want an attractive lawn. It is, after all, one of the largest aspects of most suburban homes, it’s what the visitor and the passer-by sees first - and those first impressions are so-o-o important. And most home owners are not too happy with their lawn. It has bare spots, moss, weeds and the track left by the paper delivery person. These home owners need “The Lawn Bible”.

Written by Fenway Park’s master groundskeeper (it's the American equivalent of Headingley cricket ground), who has faced more grass issues than the rest of us put together, it has everything the grass-grower needs to make him or her the lawn meister of the neighbourhood. The writer stats by taking a look at a single grass plant and moves on to discuss the most basic element of a good lawn - the soil. He discusses seeding, instant lawns, watering, mowing (including your own design of stripes) replacing old lawns, weeds, insect pests and diseases. There is no question I could think to ask about lawns and grass that isn’t addressed in this book, ands all the information is arranged logically so that I wouldn’t have to spend too much time searching. For anyone who needed further information there is a list of Internet resources at the end.

I’m usually a bit wary of books calling themselves “The Bible of....” but this book really provides all the leadership and advice you need about lawns. Written by a master whose lawns and grass are wide open to the criticism of thousands each week, you can be confident the book is authoritative. It also has quotes from groundskeepers of other well-known sports fields.

If your lawn doesn’t look good to you, invest in this book. It’s readable, the material well arranged and presented, and it tells you all you’ll ever need to know about lawns.