The spatial pattern of soil water content (SWC) determines the success of vegetation restoration in semi- and arid regions. The Qilian Mountains in China are in a semi-arid area where decades of environmental degradation prompted large-scale restoration efforts with a native constructive species Picea crassifolia. However, the relationships between SWC and landcover are not clear in this area, hindering woodland restoration. In this study, we determined spatial distribution and characteristics of SWC in the Qilian Mountains in four main types of landcover. Our results revealed that 1. SWC decreased in the order of natural forest, brushland, grassland, planted forest, and mixed forest, but it was significantly different only in natural forest (p<0.05); 2. planted forest exhibited a lower SWC at young ages (less than 50 a) than natural forest, brushland or grassland, and the ecohydrological effect of afforestation exhibited hysteresis at long time scales; 3. a variogram analysis and Kriging interception of the spatial pattern of SWC showed that shrubland and grassland exhibited superior adaptability to local SWC compared with afforestation. The differences in SWC among various landcover types indicated that strengthening the maintenance and protection of natural forests is more important for restoration efforts than afforestation; furthermore, in semi-arid regions, shrubs and grasses are more suitable for use in ecological restoration than forest plantations.