Your Seasonal Storage Calendar for Fort Scott, Kansas

Kansas gives you four real seasons — and each one comes with its own set of gear, decorations, and equipment that takes up space in your garage, basement, and closets. If you've ever tripped over a snow blower in July or dug through a pile of pool noodles looking for your space heater in November, you already know the problem. The stuff you need right now is buried behind the stuff you won't need for another six months.

A storage unit at Bourbon County Storage on Richards Road in Fort Scott solves this with a simple concept: seasonal rotation. Instead of cramming everything into your home year-round, you keep a single unit — usually a 5x10 or 10x10 — and swap items in and out as the seasons change. This guide walks you through the full year, month by month, so you know exactly what to store and what to retrieve at each transition. Think of it as a calendar for your stuff.

January – February: The Post-Holiday Reset

The holidays are over, the tree is down, and your living room is full of bins that need to go somewhere. January and February are all about the post-holiday reset — getting the Christmas and New Year's decorations packed up properly and moved into your storage unit before they end up sitting in a corner of the garage until March.

This is a retrieval-light time of year. With Kansas winter in full swing, you're not pulling much out of storage. The roads around Fort Scott can be icy, and most people aren't eager to make extra trips unless they have to. Focus on getting things in, not taking things out.

What to Store

• Christmas trees (artificial), lights, ornaments, and wreaths
• Holiday table linens, serving platters, and seasonal dishware
• Outdoor holiday decorations and extension cords
• Gift wrap supplies, ribbon, and bows for next year

Packing Tips for Holiday Items

Use clear plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes so you can see what's inside without opening everything next December. Wrap ornaments and fragile decorations in tissue paper rather than newspaper — newspaper ink can transfer onto surfaces and stain lighter-colored items over time. Label every bin on at least two sides so you can identify contents no matter how they're stacked in your unit.

March – April: The Spring Swap

This is the big one. March and April in Fort Scott mark the transition from winter to spring, and it's the busiest rotation of the year for most storage tenants. You're storing an entire season's worth of cold-weather gear and pulling out everything you'll need for the warmer months ahead.

What to Store

• Snow blower and ice scrapers
• Winter coats, boots, scarves, and gloves
• Space heaters and electric blankets
• Winter sports equipment — sleds, ice fishing gear

What to Retrieve

• Lawn mower, string trimmer, and garden tools
• Patio furniture and outdoor cushions
• Bicycles and outdoor toys
• Spring gardening supplies — pots, planters, hoses

Before you store winter gear, take the time to wash coats, clean boots, and wipe down equipment. Storing dirty items invites mildew and pests, especially through the warm, humid Kansas summer months. A little prep work now saves you from unpleasant surprises in the fall.

May – June: Summer Prep

By May, Fort Scott is warming up fast and the last thing you want cluttering your house is heavy winter gear. If you didn't do a full spring swap in March or April, this is your last call to get it done before summer hits.

What to Store

• Any remaining heaters, heavy blankets, and winter bedding
• Winter sports gear you missed in the spring swap

What to Retrieve

• Camping gear — tents, sleeping bags, coolers, camp stoves
• Boating and fishing equipment for area lakes
• Outdoor entertaining supplies — canopies, yard games, extra chairs
• Summer sports equipment — baseball gear, golf clubs, paddleboards

May and June are also peak storage season in Bourbon County. Families are moving and renovation projects are ramping up with the good weather. If you've been thinking about reserving a unit, this is when availability tightens up. Don't wait until the weekend you need it — call ahead at (620) 644-0735 or reserve online to lock in your spot.

July – August: Peak Season

Midsummer is the highest-demand period for self storage in Fort Scott. Between household moves, home renovations, and families juggling summer activities, our facility on Richards Road stays busy through July and August.

What to Retrieve

• Back-to-school items — dorm furniture, school supplies, backpacks
• Fall sports equipment for early practices and tryouts

Kansas Heat Warning

July and August temperatures in Fort Scott regularly climb into the upper 90s and beyond. If you're storing temperature-sensitive items — electronics, vinyl records, candles, photographs, certain medications, or anything with a wax or adhesive component — keep Kansas summer heat in mind. Avoid storing these items long-term during peak heat, or choose a climate-controlled option if available. Visiting your unit during the cooler morning hours is also a smart move for your own comfort.

September – October: The Fall Transition

September in Fort Scott means the Bourbon County Fair is wrapping up and the temperatures are starting to drop. Once fall settles in, it's time for the fall rotation.

What to Store

• Patio furniture, outdoor cushions, and umbrellas
• Bicycles, scooters, and outdoor toys
• Summer sports gear — baseball equipment, golf clubs, paddleboards
• Camping and boating equipment

What to Retrieve

• Halloween and fall decorations
• Heavy blankets, comforters, and flannel bedding
• Space heaters and portable heating units
• Fall and winter outerwear

If you enjoy walking the trails at Gunn Park or spending weekends exploring the Fort Scott National Historic Site, fall is prime time — and it's also the perfect window to make your storage swap before the first hard freeze catches you off guard. Kansas weather can turn quickly in October, so don't put it off.

November – December: Holiday Mode

The end of the year is all about wrapping up outdoor season and getting ready for the holidays. November is your last chance to deal with lawn equipment and outdoor gear before winter sets in for good.

What to Store

• Fall decorations — pumpkins, harvest wreaths, autumn banners
• Lawn mower (winterize it first — drain or stabilize the fuel, clean the deck, and change the oil)
• String trimmer and leaf blower
• Any remaining outdoor furniture or garden equipment

What to Retrieve

• Christmas decorations — trees, lights, ornaments, yard displays
• Holiday entertaining supplies — extra dishes, table linens, serving pieces
• Gift wrapping supplies

Winterizing Gas Equipment

Before you store any gas-powered equipment for the winter, take a few minutes to winterize it properly. For your lawn mower, either run the tank dry or add fuel stabilizer to prevent gumming. Clean the underside of the mowing deck, replace or clean the air filter, and change the oil. For string trimmers and leaf blowers, empty the fuel tank and run the engine until it stops. Storing equipment with old gas is one of the most common reasons small engines won't start in the spring — a little maintenance now saves you a repair bill later.

The Rotation Strategy: One Unit, Four Seasons

Here's the part that surprises most people: you don't need a huge storage unit to handle a full year of seasonal rotation. A single 5x10 unit — about the size of a walk-in closet — is enough for most Fort Scott households to rotate holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, and a few pieces of outdoor gear. If you've got larger items like a riding mower, patio furniture set, or a snow blower, a 10x10 gives you plenty of room to keep everything organized with space to move around.

The key is treating your storage unit like a revolving door, not a dump. Every time you bring something in, take something out. Keep an aisle down the middle so you can reach items in the back without unstacking everything. Put items you'll need next near the front, and items you won't need for several months toward the back. Label every box on at least two sides.

With a month-to-month lease at Bourbon County Storage, there's no long-term commitment. You pay for what you use, and you can adjust your unit size if your needs change. Most of our tenants who use this rotation strategy have been with us for years — not because they're locked in, but because the system works and the price is right.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seasonal Storage

What size storage unit do I need for seasonal rotation?

Most households in Fort Scott can handle a full seasonal rotation with a 5x10 or 10x10 unit. A 5x10 works well for holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, and smaller gear like garden tools and sports equipment. If you're rotating larger items — a lawn mower, snow blower, patio furniture set, or bikes — a 10x10 gives you the extra room you need plus space to walk in and organize. Check out our size guide for a visual comparison.

How often should I visit my storage unit for seasonal swaps?

Most people make four to six trips per year, lining up with the major seasonal transitions. The two biggest swap days are March/April (winter to spring) and September/October (summer to fall). You'll also make trips in January for holiday decorations and November to winterize and store lawn equipment. Some tenants combine these into fewer visits by planning ahead and swapping multiple categories at once.

Should I worry about Kansas humidity damaging my stored items?

Kansas summers bring both heat and humidity, so it's worth taking precautions. Use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for anything susceptible to moisture. Avoid storing items damp or dirty — always wash clothing and clean equipment before packing it away. Placing moisture absorbers or silica gel packets in your unit can also help. For more detailed advice, check out our guide on protecting your belongings from Kansas humidity.

Can I store a lawn mower with gas in the tank?

We strongly recommend against it. Gasoline left sitting in a small engine for months can gum up the carburetor and fuel lines, leading to expensive repairs or a mower that won't start in the spring. Before storing your mower, either run the tank completely dry or add a fuel stabilizer and run the engine for a few minutes so treated fuel reaches the carburetor. The same applies to string trimmers, leaf blowers, and any other gas-powered equipment.

Ready to simplify your seasonal storage rotation? Give us a call at (620) 644-0735 to reserve a unit, or stop by our facility at 2510 Richards Road in Fort Scott. You can also check out our size guide or visit our FAQ page for more information. Bourbon County Storage makes it easy to keep your home organized all year long — no matter what Kansas weather throws your way.