Lol , mine are just stacked up sitting in the rain sealed of course but I don't anything special to mine

I've stored bags of manure and compost in stacks year round in the garage for years, and never had a bit of problem. Since I apply the stuff Nov-Feb, I need it in winter. I want it to break down before the spring flush, plus I use compost for winter protection around some of my roses. Diane

There is no problem. I mean, in nature this stuff would just be sitting ground year round. It will just continue to decompose at whatever rate it can.

Although I have to ask, why not put it on the ground now? It will do more good in your beds feeding the biology there than sitting in your garage. Compost is like money - the sooner you can invest it and get it working for you the more you will get out of it.

I have mine all over the place, garage, side yard etc all the time, no issues

My flower beds are totally covered in plants, so I have to wait until everything dies back (Nov-Feb) before pouring on the compost and manure--it's much easier. Diane

We're possibly getting a frost/freeze this weekend, then 2-3 weeks of not that cold fall weather; I hate to risk sending my plants into a growth spurt with winter bearing down. After several freezing nights and everything is good and dormant, I agree - great time to get the stuff put on. Just have to store the stuff until then, and with the 'wonderful' weather where I live that could be as long as another month!

I'd also like to get some edging put on my beds, to help contain whatever I put on them (mulch, compost, etc.). We'll see how much the budget (honestly, and my energy level) allows.

We're definitely getting a very early hard freeze tomorrow night, followed by a second night of freezing. Then things warm up. The Northwest has been the coldest area in the US for several weeks. This isn't typical, and I'm not happy about it. Nevertheless, by the first week in November photosynthesis ceases here in this part of the north because there is insufficient energy from the sun. This will remain so until sometime in early March. So, after the first week in Nov, I don't worry about any growth spurts even if it is relatively warm. Diane

I buy chicken manure 6-12 months before using it so it will age and not burn plants or smell bad when spread out. I use the oldest bags when I need some and buy more before they are depleted. I keep them under the house and it doesn’t freeze here. We have a 3-4 foot high crawl space at the back of the house with large entry panels. It’s my garden shed :-)

That depends upon what product you're considering. From personal experience, Coco Mulch is an absolute FAVORITE of rats. They will nest in and eat that stuff any time they can get near it, including over winter. Plus, it can poison dogs, so... If you're considering purchasing bags of organic fertilizers (blood meal, bone meal, alfalfa meal/pellets, etc.) also watch out for rodents as they will eat that (just like your dogs will) too. If you purchase that type of material, it needs to be stored somewhere you can prevent rodents from getting into it. All the other types made from composted garden waste, ground pine/fir etc., should be OK out in the elements or kept dry in the garage, shed, basement, etc. I personally prefer not to allow the bags of soil products to be rained on regularly because water seeps into them, making them heavier than they need to be and I have had a few actually sour from that moisture. I had to open and spread them out so the anaerobic bacteria would die out and be replaced with aerobic and be ready for use. It works, but it was inconvenient.

Thanks Richard! I might go ahead and give them a fall dressing under the leaf mulch before dormancy. If I can get enough bags on sale (more money for roses!) I can keep some for a spring (or late winter) feeding. Based on what Roseseek says, any bags stored long-term (several months) I'll keep out of the rain for weight and anaerobic bacteria concerns.

Roseseek, I'll be using shredded leaves as much as I can. If I can get some hardwood mulch(cedar/cypress, not the dyed stuff) I'll do leaves, cardboard, then mulch. One side of my house has pretty decent soil but the other side is definitely more clay-y and my roses are showing it, so that side gets priority with the leaves. I've never seen Coco mulch around here, and now I'm glad I haven't! I don't have a dog, but rats/mice, eek!