7 Things You Shouldn't Store in the Shed, According to Pros

Apr 21, 2023

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Having a shed in your yard is great because it provides extra storage for things that you reach for often while you're outside gardening, playing yard games, and more. However, keeping some of these items in your shed actually might be doing more harm than good. The temperature and moisture levels change frequently inside of your shed depending on the weather outside, so unless it's fully insulated, everything inside is subject to that environmental volatility. So before putting anything else inside, find out what items the pros think you shouldn't be storing in your shed.

Meet the Expert

Miranda Niemiec is a horticulture expert and operations manager at Great Garden Plants.

Justin Hancock is a horticulturist at Costa Farms, a plant nursery based in Miami, FL.

"Do not keep fertilizer in a hot enclosed area like a shed, as spontaneous combustion could occur if the temperatures and moisture levels reach certain conditions," says Miranda Niemiec, horticultural expert at Great Garden Plants. The safest place to store fertilizer is in a cool, dry place.

Any shed that isn't properly insulated will get really hot in summertime (similar to an uninsulated attic crawlspace). Your fertilizer will basically be cooking, so store it in an insulated garage or the basement, or add insulation to your shed.

Seed packets as well shouldn't just be toss in the shed. "You will want to store your seeds in an area with even temperatures with no humidity, like an airtight container," says Niemiec. This consistent environment stops them from molding and keeps them safe from any dampness that might make them unplantable next season.

Plus, you want to keep them from any pets or wild pests that might wander into the shed. "I never keep seeds in my garden shed, unless they’re in a protected, rodent-proof container," says Justin Hancock, horticulturalist at Costa Farms.

If you don't want your tools to go blunt or rust, you really need to care for them. Certain tools are more prone to rusting in fluctuating temperatures with high levels of humidity, says Niemiec. "We recommend storing it in a covered box for easy access or even in a bucket of sand."

And even if you don't live in a high humidity area, there's always the chance of getting a leak during a heavy rainstorm.

Along with storing them properly, you should be cleaning them after each use. You can also look at investing in a sharpener to keep the blades in good shape.

To get your bulbs to rebloom again next year, you have to dig them up and dry them out then store them until it's time to replant again. "While a shed might seem like a good place to dig and store summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias and gladiolus, fluctuating temperatures—especially if there's a bout of unusually warm weather—can be problematic for these plants," says Hancock. Instead he suggests keeping them is a place where conditions stay consistent, like a basement.

Gardening gloves are one of those things that get used then tossed aside, as though just about anywhere will do. We don't think about storing them properly, because they’re just gardening gloves. But think twice before you do that again.

"I never keep my gardening gloves in a shed because I don't want pests to find them," says Hancock. "One spring, I found a mouse had made a nest in one of my favorite pair of gloves. It also made me think about other pests, such as spiders crawling inside."

They should be stored safely away from pests in a dry location. Store them on something wet and, depending on the material, they could get mildewy.

Don't store extra batteries for your lawn mower, electric garden tools, or household items in your shed. "I don't keep the battery for my lawn mower in my garden shed because of the possibility of exposure to excessively hot temperatures here in Miami or the possibility of excessive cold in other areas," says Hancock.

Store them indoors in a place where they'll be protected from temperature extremes, which can shorten the life of the battery and cause it to swell.

You likely want to keep your seasonal gear out of sight when it's out of season, so a shed can seem like a great spot for storage. But storing in a shed could lead to a need for all new decor. "Potential exposure to moisture may ruin ornaments or fabrics like tree skirts, stockings, etc.," says Hancock.

Though an insulated attic or basement would be better, if you really must store decor in your shed be sure to get airtight plastic containers.

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