[Objective] The spatial distribution characteristics of physicochemical properties under different vegetation restoration measures were analyzed in order to provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration in semi-arid sandy areas. [Methods] Three typical restoration models 〔enclosed grassland (EG), aerial seeded woodland (AS), and artificial Caragana korshinskii woodland (AK)〕 were compared against a degraded grassland (CG) used as control in the Southwest Mu Us sand land. Soil physicochemical indexes and a comprehensive soil fertility index in the 0—40 cm soil layer were analyzed. [Results] ① Soil water content (SWC) in the 0—10 cm layer significantly increased under the three different vegetation restoration measures, but decreased significantly in the 10—40 cm layer. In contrast, soil bulk density (BD) in the 0—10 cm layer decreased significantly, but there was no significant difference in 10—40 cm layer, which showed weak variation. Vegetation restoration significantly reduced soil pH value in the 0—20 cm layer, but showed no significant difference in the 20—40 cm layer. In addition, SWC, BD, and pH value increased as soil depth increased under the same vegetation restoration measure. ② Soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) increased significantly, while available phosphorus (AP) decreased significantly under different vegetation restoration measures. SOM was highest in EG, but TN was highest in AS. Total phosphorus (TP), SOM, and TN exhibited surface aggregation in the soil. AP and available nitrogen (AN) were different for different restoration measures and soil layers. ③ The soil comprehensive fertility index followed the order of AS (0.794)>EG (0.662)>CG (0.637)>AK (0.603), indicating that soil quality was highest in AS, but lowest in AK. [Conclusion] Various vegetation restoration measures had significant effects on soil physiochemical properties, and resulted in different variations in soil indexes in the vertical soil profile. Aerial seeding is suitable for afforestation, while large area artificial Caragana korshinskii woodland is not suitable for the Mu Us sand land.