How Does Grass Seed Germinate?
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Green, Green Grass of Home
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Grass not only enhances the curbside appearance of your home, it can provide a lush carpet of greenery for entertaining and recreation. Grass is one of the most abundant plant forms on Earth. You can see millions and millions of grass blades in an area the size of a football field. Just imagine how much grass is grown on entire mountain sides or the Midwest plains!
But grass, like any other surface plant, had to come from somewhere. Grass actually comes from tiny seeds. They battle the elements more than other plants because grass is so low to the ground and easily eaten, washed away, or shunned from the sun. This article explains how grass seeds germinate to overcome these natural obstacles.
Temperature
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Grass seed is surrounded by a hull or hard casing that protects the baby sprout during the initial germination period. Germination is dependent on several factors: temperature, moisture, oxygen and the amount of light the seed requires to germinate. Depending the type of grass seed, the temperature must be over 65 degrees for warm season grasses and 45 degrees for cool season grasses.
If you plan to grow grass in your yard you may want to think about these temperature ranges. When choosing grass seed, be aware of the geographical weather conditions. This will ensure the grass seed you purchase will grow in your area and climate.
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Moisture
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The most important factor in grass seed germination is the amount of moisture the grass seed needs. Moisture must be present the initial phase of growth for the seedling and throughout the growing process. Once moisture is applied to the grass seed the hard casing begins to soften and the baby sprout inside the casing begins to sprout and develop a root system. The root system then uptakes the water and sends it directly to the baby sprout. If the proper amounts of moisture of not supplied to the grass seed the baby sprout will not grow and the seed will not complete the germination process.
Oxygen and Light
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The most important factor in grass seed germination is the amount of moisture the grass seed needs. Moisture must be present the initial phase of growth for the seedling and throughout the growing process. Once moisture is applied to the grass seed the hard casing begins to soften and the baby sprout inside the casing begins to sprout and develop a root system. The root system then uptakes the water and sends it directly to the baby sprout. If the proper amounts of moisture of not supplied to the grass seed the baby sprout will not grow and the seed will not complete the germination process.
After the sprout has broken through the hard casing it requires oxygen for the growth process. When given the proper amount of the light the sprout can begin the photosynthesis process and continue if grow into a full grass seedling. These seedlings go on to produce multiple blades of grass, covering the Earth's fields and feeding cows all over the world.
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