[Objective] The water retention effect of planting seedlings with desert planters on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert was explored to observe whether the desert planters are more conducive to the survival of seedlings, in order to provide scientific support for improving the survival rate of seedlings in desert areas.[Methods] Soil water content of different soil layers under two planting methods (shovel and desert afforestation device) was compared. The corresponding formula was used to calculate effective soil water content, soil water deficit degree and soil moisture variation coefficient, to comprehensively assess which planting method was better.[Results] ① The risk of soil moisture loss in each soil layer could be greatly reduced by using desert afforestation devices in grass square, and the soil moisture content under the action of afforestation devices was higher than that of shovel, with the highest being 1.42 times and the lowest being 1.04 times. ② The depths of the two planting methods were different, so that the roots of Caragana korshinskii distributed differently in soil layers, and thus the water use strategies were different. Caragana korshinskii in the shovel group mainly used soil water in the 15-40 cm soil layer, while Caragana korshinskii in the afforestation group mainly used soil water in the 20-50 cm soil layer. The soil moisture deficit of Caragana korshinskii roots in the afforestation group was less, which was more conducive to the initial growth of Caragana korshinskii. ③ In terms of the survival rate of planted seedlings, the survival rate of seedlings planted by shovel was 45%-55%; the survival rate of seedlings planted by desert afforestation tools was 70%-75%, which was increased by about 25%. The survival rate of seedlings planted by desert afforestation tools was higher.[Conclusion] According to soil moisture retention and the survival rate of the planted Caragana korshinskii, compared with shovel planting, the effect of planting Caragana korshinskii with desert afforestation equipment is better.