Seedling recruitment plays a key role in determining species composition and diversity. To understand the effects of herbs on tree seedlings in two forest types, a control experiment based on 246 seedling quadrats of 1 m×1 m was conducted in secondary conifer and broad-leaved mixed forests and broad-leaved Korean pine forests, including control and herb removal. The results showed that herb removal significantly increased height growth of tree seedlings at the community level in two forest types, and a higher height growth was found in broad-leaved Korean pine forests. Effects of herb removal varied at different age classes. In the secondary conifer and broad-leaved mixed forests, herb removal significantly promoted the height growth of seedlings above four years old, but not for seedlings of one to three years old. In broad-leaved Korean pine forests, conversely, herb removal significantly promoted the height growth of seedlings of one to three years old, while not for seedling of four years old and above. The height growth of Fraxinus mandshurica increased significantly in both plots. However, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum showed a significantly height growth only in secondary conifer and broad-leaved mixed forests and other species showed a significantly height growth only in broad-leaved Korean pine forests. Seedling survival was positively correlated with abundance of herb and number of herb species, but no correlation with herb cover was found in secondary conifer and broad-leaved mixed forests. In broad-leaved Korean pine forests, seedling survival just positively correlated with number of herb species. There were no correlation between seedling survival and abundance of herb and herb cover. The results indicated that the exist of herb could slow down height growth of tree seedling. To some extent, it may contribute to the microhabitat amelioration, but did not significantly improve the seedling survival.