Vegetation significantly influences the redistribution of precipitation, which is crucial for maintaining hydrological cycles in forests and managing regional forest-water interactions. However, current research primarily examines the impact of homogeneous, even-aged forest characteristics on precipitation redistribution, with limited focus on the variability in rainfall redistribution at different forest management stages. This oversight complicates the scientific assessment of shrub forests, which are typically coppiced every four to six years. Consequently, this study focuses on Salix psammophila plantations within the Ordos afforestation area in the Kubuqi Desert, specifically aged 2, 3, and 5 years, to monitor and calculate precipitation redistribution characteristics at various growth stages. It analyzes internal differences in rainfall distribution and influencing factors, incorporating regional forest distribution, nurturing time, and coppicing intervals. Future projections for the next five years of forest precipitation redistribution are also developed. Results indicate: (1) Throughfall demonstrates a trend of 2a > 3a > 5a forests, while stemflow and canopy interception show a reverse trend of 5a > 3a > 2a forests, with rainfall amount and duration being key influencing factors. (2) The spatial distribution of throughfall is affected by both forest age and rainfall characteristics; during light rain, the 2a Salix psammophila forest exhibits even boundaries between "rain extremes," "middle extremes," and "dry extremes," while the 3a Salix psammophila shows a more uniform throughfall rate; during heavy rain, the 2a Salix psammophila maintains a more uniform rate, whereas the 3a and 5a Salix psammophila display more pronounced distinctions between "rain extremes" and "middle extremes." (3) Comprehensive calculations of rainfall distribution within the forest for the year closely match the assessments for the 3a Salix psammophila. The research forecasts the patterns of rainfall redistribution over the coming five-year period and advocates for the strategic integration of small-scale understory vegetation within the Salix psammophila plantations by 2025. This approach is projected to yield dual advantages, namely sand stabilization and enhanced vegetation growth during periods of substantial rainfall infiltration, particularly anticipated in the years 2026 and 2027. Additionally, the study highlights that the annual patterns of rainfall redistribution exhibit a strong correlation with forests of intermediate age. Consequently, it suggests prioritizing research efforts on these middle-aged forests to effectively minimize disruptions caused by variations in forest age. These insights are crucial as they provide theoretical guidance for selecting appropriate forest ages for water conservation research. Furthermore, the findings serve as a robust scientific foundation for the management of forest water resources and the development of protective shrub forests in diverse geographic regions across the globe.