Christmas Tree Farm Outfit Ideas, From Layers to Boots
What to wear to cut your own Christmas tree: layering for any weather, shirt picks and colors that stand out in photos, and the boots and gloves you will want.
Going to cut your own tree is one of those plans that sounds simple until you are standing in a muddy field in the wrong shoes, holding a saw, while someone tries to get a family photo before the light goes. A little planning on what everyone wears makes the whole trip easier, and the photos come out better.
This guide walks through a Christmas tree farm outfit from the morning weather check to the cocoa afterward, with Christmas 2026 shirt ideas from our shop that work for the trip and for the pictures.
A few numbers before you go
The National Christmas Tree Association says there are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas trees in the U.S., and about 25 to 30 million real trees are sold here every year. The average tree takes about 7 years to grow. That is a lot of people walking the same rows in late November and December, so plan for busy weekends, muddy paths and a line at the netting station.
Before you leave: check the weather and plan in layers
December weather at a tree farm can be anything. In the northern states it might be below freezing with snow on the rows. In Texas and across the South it can be in the 70s by early afternoon. The answer is the same in both places: build the outfit in layers, with a graphic tee as the base.
- Cold day: a long-sleeve thermal under the tee, a flannel, fleece or knit cardigan over it, a puffer vest or winter coat on top.
- Mild or chilly morning: the tee with an open flannel or a light jacket, and the flannel tied around your waist once you warm up from walking the rows.
- Warm day: the tee on its own, a light jacket in the car for when the sun goes down.
The tee is the part that shows up in every photo, coat on or off, so that is the piece to choose with care.
The shirt: Christmas tree farm outfit ideas that photograph well
Classic plaid and trees
Tis the Season Plaid Trees has red dotted lettering around three gingham and checkered trees with bows. Put it under a red or green flannel and the whole outfit reads as tree farm without trying. Merry Christmas Vintage Trees has Merry in green script and CHRISTMAS in vintage red over a row of pink, blue and green trees. It looks like an old postcard, which suits a farm with a red barn and a tractor ride. More designs in this style are in our Classic Christmas Shirts collection.
The one with a wink
Mistletoe Social Club is a sprig of mistletoe tied with a pink bow, lettered Mistletoe Social Club, Est. 1892, Cut Fresh Daily. Cut Fresh Daily is a good line for a day spent picking a fresh cut tree. It comes in 12 colors, from Ivory and Blossom to Berry and Black.
Western tree farm outfits
A lot of tree farms feel like ranch country anyway, with hay bales, a barn and a fire pit. Boots and a western shirt fit right in. Western Christmas Boots shows a pair of white cowboy boots stitched with snowflakes and tied together with a green holly ribbon. Howdy Holidays 2026 has western lettering with a cowboy hat, a cactus in a Santa hat and a 2026 horseshoe, so the year is right there in your photo. Cowgirl Christmas Club puts pink and mint cowgirl boots with a red bow inside a holly wreath. Wear any of them with real boots, and you will be glad of the boots in the mud. The full set is in our Western Christmas Shirts collection.
A pink tree farm look
If your family photos lean pink, Pink Trees Merry Christmas has a cluster of frosted pink trees with gold stars above a pink merry Christmas script. Against a field of green trees, pink is one of the easiest colors to see in a photo.
Color tips for the family pictures
Here is the thing most people forget: the background is solid green. A shirt in Moss will melt into the trees. Colors that stand out against evergreen are Ivory, Blossom, Berry, Watermelon and Blue Jean. If you want the whole family to coordinate, pick two or three of those and let each person choose a design. Our guide to matching Christmas shirts for adults has more on how to match without everyone wearing the exact same shirt.
Our tees are adult sizes S to 3XL only, so kids will need their own shirts in the same color family. If the grown-ups are matching, order every shirt in one cart. These tees are garment-dyed, and the shade can vary slightly from one dye lot to the next.
What to avoid wearing for tree farm photos
- Solid dark green. It disappears into the trees, as above.
- Tiny busy prints on everyone. One plaid flannel or one patterned shirt per family photo is plenty. Mix it with solid colors and simple graphic tees so the picture does not look noisy.
- Brand-new white shoes. They will not stay white, and you will spend the whole session worrying about them.
- Anything you cannot kneel in. Cutting the trunk happens at ground level.
Neutral tones like cream, brown and soft denim blue work well with almost any shirt color, which is why many family photo outfits for a tree farm session start from a cream knit sweater or a brown jacket and add one brighter piece.
Dressing the kids, the teens and the dog
Since our tees come in adult sizes only, plan the grown-ups first and then pull the kids' outfits from their own closets in the same color family. Babies and toddlers look cute in a cream knit sweater or a red flannel with a beanie. Teens usually want a say, so give them two color choices and let them pick. If the dog is coming, a bandana in one of your colors pulls them into the picture too. Ask the farm first, since not every farm allows pets.
At the farm: what to wear below the shirt
Pants and shoes matter more than you think. Rows are often muddy or wet, and you will kneel to cut the trunk.
- Jeans or work pants you do not mind getting dirty at the knees.
- Boots with grip. Cowboy boots, hiking boots or rain boots all work. Leave the white sneakers at home.
- Work gloves. Trunks are rough and pine sap is sticky. Gloves keep sap off your hands and off the front of your shirt when you carry the tree.
- A hat or beanie on cold days. It keeps your ears warm and covers hat hair in the photos.
After the tree: cocoa and the drive home
Many farms sell hot cocoa near the netting station. If you are planning your own cocoa night at home after the trip, our Christmas Coffee and Cocoa Shirts collection has designs for that part of the day too. Bring a towel or an old blanket for the car. A fresh cut tree drips sap and needles, and the shirt you picked for the photos will be riding next to it.
When to order so the shirts arrive before your trip
Every shirt is printed after it is ordered. Orders ship in 1 to 3 business days. Most orders arrive 3 to 5 business days after shipping. For a farm trip, count back about eight business days from the day you plan to go. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, so for a trip on Saturday, December 5, plan to place your order around Monday, November 23. If the shirts are also Christmas gifts, keep the holiday date in mind: Order by Dec 9 for Christmas delivery.
Prices are $29.99 for S to XL, $32.99 for 2XL and $34.99 for 3XL. These Christmas designs are printed on Comfort Colors 1717 with a relaxed unisex fit, and our size and measurement guide shows how to choose a size from a shirt you already own. Standard shipping (UPS) is $9 on orders under $49, and Economy shipping is free on orders of $49 or more, so a family order usually clears that easily. See our shipping information page and the Christmas Shirt Ordering Guide 2026.
Quick answers
What should I wear to a Christmas tree farm?
A Christmas graphic tee as your base layer, a flannel or jacket you can take off, jeans, boots with grip and work gloves.
What colors look best in tree farm photos?
Colors that contrast with green, like Ivory, Blossom, Berry, Watermelon and Blue Jean. Avoid dark green, which blends into the trees.
Should the whole family match?
It is easier to coordinate than to match. Pick a color family and let each person choose a design.
How do I wash the shirt after a muddy day?
Machine wash cold, inside out, with like colors, and tumble dry low. No bleach, and no iron directly on the print.