Store trees upright in a shady, cool place, out of high traffic areas. If permanent shade is unavailable, use a tarp or shade cloth suspended above the trees and down the sides with at least 2-foot air space. This eliminates stringburn, severe drying from wind, and keeps temperatures cooler. In severe drying conditions, misting trees at night is beneficial. Don't soak piles of baled trees because it can cause molding and defoliation.
Mold develops quickly only when temperatures are warm or hot.
The approximate time required for trees to reach the critical moisture content should be determined, and prices discounted at the time to hasten movement. Simple coding on tree tags will enables retailers to know exactly how long each tree has been on display. When displayed trees are no longer fresh or meet the above criteria of freshness, they should be removed from sale and replaced with fresh trees from storage. This allows trees to completely rehydrate, and improves freshness. Keep containers filled.