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Understanding the effect of increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on xylem growth of trees is critical to predict tree growth and carbon sequestration under global change. Canopy N addition (CAN) is generally believed to realistically simulate atmospheric N deposition on terrestrial ecosystems given it takes all processes of N deposition from forest canopy to belowground into account. However, whether CAN is more effective in reflecting the effect of atmospheric N deposition on xylem growth of trees than understory N addition (UAN) has been rarely reported. To address the question, we conducted a CAN vs. UAN experimental study to weekly monitor xylem growth of two dominant broadleaf species (Quercus acutissima Carruth. and Quercus variabilis Blume) in a warm temperate forest of China during 2014-2015. Weekly xylem increment during the two years was measured. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify the effects of N addition on xylem growth and detect the differences among treatments. We found that CAN of 50 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) plays a more significant role in promoting xylem growth of Q. acutissima than UAN of 50 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1), and significantly enhanced the formation of differentiating xylem (zones of radial enlarging and wall-thickening cells) of Q. acutissima in the early growing season (April-June) and the rate of xylem increment, but no significant difference in xylem increment of Q. variabilis was detected between CANSO and UAN50. This is the first study to quantitatively demonstrate that previous UAN studies may have underestimated the effects of atmospheric N deposition on tree growth by ignoring the N interception through forest canopy. Furthermore, our study also suggested a species-specific response of xylem growth to N addition. Under a certain amount of atmospheric N deposition in the future, the xylem increment of Q. acutissima may be superior to that of Q. variabilis.