Big-Bang Theory! When basic yard care turns explosive

Most of us who cut our own grass have run over something when mowing the lawn. My own minor mishaps include pushing my mower over my Labradoodle's favorite ball (amazingly, the springy rubber ball suffered not even a scratch), wiping out a few just-bloomed tulips, and damaging a section of a low-lying border around a flower bed.

But nothing I've done or ever heard of can match what apparently happened to a 39-year-old in Zagreb, Croatia. While the man was cutting the grass last week, he ran over a hand grenade, according to this report on CroatianTimes.com. The spinning blades set off the grenade, but because the mower absorbed the brunt of the blast, the man escaped serious injury, said local police.

I initially though the grenade might be a remnant of the war that gripped the former Yugoslavia during the early 1990s, but the report said someone had tossed the grenade onto the property. (Talk about problems with the neighbors. Recommended reading: "Neighbor Wars—Keeping the Peace.")

If you're in the market for a new mower or tractor, check out our buyer's guide to mowers and tractors. And read our May 2009 report on mowers and tractors (report and ratings available to subscribers).

Not that you'd expect any brand to withstand an exploding grenade, but it pays to buy a reliable product. Among the more reliable brands are Honda, Toro, and Craftsman (push lawn mowers); Toro and Honda (self-propelled lawn mowers); and John Deere (lawn tractors).—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Read about safe mowing in our summer-safety guide.

Comments

[Nowax]

Considering the war ended in the 90's, I think he needs to mow more often.