# Will freezing hurt a bag of lawn fertilizer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180 "2017-10-29T20:47:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/1 "2017-10-29T20:47:15Z")
I have a large, unopened bag. Could store it in the garage where it doesn’t normally freeze but would rather leave it in the shed. It’s the white granular stuff, nothing organic, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/2 "2017-10-29T22:23:40Z")
Should be no problem. After all, the ground freezes in winter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/3 "2017-10-29T22:26:24Z")
Yes. No problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/4 "2017-10-29T23:31:38Z")
Is your bag open? If it’s open, then potentially your fertilizer could absorb moisture from the air all winter, leaving it more of a melted brick than granules ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/5 "2017-10-30T01:09:19Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Should be no problem. > > After all, the ground freezes in winter. Then again, it would explain why we have to fertilize in the spring. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/6 "2017-10-30T15:09:08Z")
If you have any concern that the bag may not be securely sealed and subject to clumping or you just want to get it out your way for the winter you could use it to winterize your lawn. Apply the fertilizer after the last mowing but before the ground freezes; at that point the grass is still actively storing nutrients but not producing new growth above ground – will give you a strong root system and quick green up in spring. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-freezing-hurt-a-bag-of-lawn-fertilizer/800180/7 "2017-10-30T21:40:12Z")
Thanks for the relies! I read the storage directions on the bag and it didn’t mention anything about temps, just that it should be stored in the original container.