Five-year survival of 2-0 bareroot Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seedlings was increased by three types of shading (cardboard shadecards placed to the south or east of seedlings, and bottomless styrofoam cups inverted around the seedling base) on two south-facing sites in southwest Oregon. On the drier site, seedlings survived well without shading (89% unshaded, 98% shaded), but on the wetter site, where seedlings were stressed more, shading was more beneficial (62% unshaded, 89% shaded). Shading did not affect growth. Seedlings grew more in 5 years on the drier than the wetter site, likely as a result of better handling and planting practices, less browsing by deer, and better weed control.