Meert Tree Farm

Cut your own tree, pre-cut Fraser fir and live trees for planting

Meert Tree Farm grows more than 22,500 Christmas trees on 80 acres of its larger 150-acre Festus property, in a range of shapes, sizes and varieties. Cut-your-own trees are Scotch pine, white pine and Norway spruce at $9–$10 per foot. You walk or ride out to the fields, pick the tree you like and cut it down yourself. Ask the farm about the size range in each field.

If you would rather skip the saw, the farm also sells pre-cut Fraser fir in sizes from 6 to 14 feet, starting at $16+ per foot depending on size, and a Fraser and Balsam fir hybrid in 9 to 10 foot sizes. White pine and Norway spruce are also sold as live ball-and-burlap trees for planting, 5 to 8 feet, at $15–$16 per foot; ask the farm about dates for those and about planting advice.

From the wagon to your car: saw, tag, shaking and netting

Start with a ride out to the fields, then take the farm’s handsaw and a two-part tag. When you have found your tree, cut it, attach one half of the tag to the bottom of the trunk and keep the other half. Carry the tag you kept to the checkout counter inside the store.

Staff shake loose the dead needles, wrap the tree in netting and carry it to the exit, where they match your tag number to your fresh-cut tree. Look for a staff member in a Meert Tree Farm shirt if you have a question in the field, and ask the farm about help loading and tying down your tree.

• Farm guide: what to expect ↗

Wagon rides, the train ride and the barn

The ride to the fields is part of the day. On every Saturday and Sunday, plus Opening Day, a covered wagon takes visitors out to the tree fields at no charge. Ask the farm how to get to the fields on weekdays.

Children also get a free train ride around the farm on Saturdays, Sundays and Opening Day, and a hand-built wooden train to climb on. A festive sled display makes a good spot for family pictures. When you want to warm up, step into the barn, where the concession stand sells hot dogs, chips and soda, hot cocoa and more. Ask the farm for concession prices.

Wreath decorating classes

Wreath decorating classes are a separate ticketed outing, not part of a tree visit. Each class is $55 per person plus tax and includes a premade real wreath base, all the decorations, a bow-making lesson and 15% off all merchandise in the store the day of your class. The standard ring is 10 inches and makes a wreath of about 20 to 24 inches. Each class is limited to 20 people.

Tickets are sold online class by class, so check the farm’s class page to see which sessions still have seats. Classes this season run on Saturday, November 14 at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm; Sunday, November 15 at 11am, 1pm and 3pm; Saturday, November 21 at 1pm and 3pm; Sunday, November 22 at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm; and Monday through Wednesday, November 23–25, from 10am to noon. Weekend classes last two hours. To change a booking, email the farm’s events address, meerttreefarm@gmail.com. Swags, table runners and mailbox designs are also available to buy in the store.

• Wreath decorating classes ↗

Professional photography sessions

Photographers can book a session on the farm, separate from a tree visit. A session is $40, or $125 for the whole day, and sessions must be booked at least 48 hours ahead. Before Thanksgiving, sessions are open on weekdays and weekends; after Thanksgiving, on weekdays only. No photography is allowed during Black Friday weekend or the first weekend in December. If you cannot book a date online, it is a blackout day.

A safety consent form is required before you arrive, and a session without it has to be rescheduled; failing to follow the session rules adds a $150 penalty to the $125 daily fee. Book through the farm’s online booking page, or email meerttreefarm@gmail.com or message the farm on Facebook.

• Photography sessions ↗

Pets, payment, tree care and practical details

Leashed dogs are welcome. Dogs must stay on a leash at all times, be friendly with people and other animals, and be cleaned up after. The farm takes all major credit cards, checks and cash.

To keep your tree fresh at home, make a fresh cut of about half an inch off the trunk, give it water every day, keep it away from heat, turn the lights off when you leave and recycle it after the holidays. Ask the farm about restrooms, parking, terrain, weather closures and refunds. For directions, put the farm’s address into your maps app.

The farm, getting there and contacts

Meert Tree Farm is a family business that began as a small tree farm in nearby Oakville and moved to its Festus property decades ago. Today the owner’s daughter, Jennifer, leads the day-to-day work. The farm is at 14560 Dry Fork Road in Festus.

For general questions, call the farm at (636) 931-3901. Class changes and photography scheduling go to meerttreefarm@gmail.com. The farm also posts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.