A Science Project on the Different Grasses

Preparation

• Select grass seeds from a few grass species grown in your region. Place about 2 ounces of seeds in every 6-by 6-inch container in both the control group and the variable group. Some warm-climate grasses are centipede and zoysia, and cold-climate grasses include Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Consider tall fescue to keep your grass green through the winter if you live in Southern California or any states directly between Southern California and North and South Carolina.

  The control group is the set of grasses you will grow normally, and the variable grass group is the experimental group influenced by testing. Comparing the two groups throughout the project helps determine changes to the variable group when experimental procedures are added. Mark each container with the name of the grass. Using soil from your ground is the most authentic way to re-create the typical growing environment.

Process

• Test the grasses according to sun exposure, watering and fertilizer, which are three typical grass growth factors. Put the control group outside and allow it to grow as if it were your normal lawn. If you water your lawn daily or add fertilizer, follow these steps as if the control group were your front yard.

  Manipulate the variable group by incorporating shade, more or less watering, and a range of fertilizer amounts. Allow the variable group to recuperate in normal growing conditions between each experiment so that each time you test a new growth factor, the variable group has healthy grasses.

Data Collecting

• Make charts to note the appearance of the grass at weekly intervals. Create one column for the control group with a row for each grass and a similar chart for the variable group. Draw control and variable group charts for each weekly interval. Pictures of the grasses from both groups during each weekly interval provide reference images for compiling conclusions. Label and date the pictures before you glue them to the related weekly interval chart.

Conclusion

• Write headings for the conclusion section that denote the tests conducted. For example, the heading for testing sun exposure might read “Variable Group Changes Compare to Control Group After a Week of No Sun Exposure.” Record the difference in appearance between the grass species of the control and variable group after the variable group was left in the shade for a week. Build similar headings and sections until all the growth factors are compared. End the conclusion by making a recommendation. Include discussions about the type of maintenance that works best for each grass.