According to the needs of afforestation in difficult sites in rocky desertification area of Northwest Hubei prov- ince, the saplings of platycladus orientalis treated with water retaining agent and film mulching were taken as the research obJects, and the effects of water retaining agent and film mulching on afforestation effect of platycladus orientalis were studied and analyzed. The results showed that the ground diameter growth difference of platycladus orientalis saplings was significant (p< 0. 05) , and the height growth difference was extremely significant (p< 0. 01) . The ground diameter of 3- year-old platycladus orientalis saplings after water retaining agent and film mulching treatment was mainly 14~22 mm, with an average ground diameter of 17~32mm,5. 93% higher than that of the control plot. The height of saplings mainly concentrated in 70~130cm, the average height was 105. 17cm, 55. 62% higher than the control plot. the survival rate of afforestation was 94. 5%,39. 36 percentage points higher than the control plot, the preservation rate was 91. 9% , 42. 30 percentage points higher than the control plot. The platycladus orientalis saplings could be planted in one time after the treatment of water retaining agent and film mulching, and the afforestation cost was reduced by 16. 86% .