Drip Irrigation

It depends on plant size, whether the plant is new or established, the soil and the season. AMWUA suggests each irrigation wet the root ball and one to two inches of surrounding soil, with new plants watered far more often than established ones. Check soil moisture near the roots and adjust at least four times a year.

A single wilting plant usually has its own emitter problem: clogged with grit or mineral scale, pulled away from the root zone, or split under the mulch. Compare flow at that emitter with its neighbors before changing the schedule, because more minutes will overwater everything else on the line.

For separated trees and shrubs, drip places water at the roots with less loss to evaporation and wind. Turf still needs spray coverage. Most desert yards do best with both, on separate valves, so each planting gets its own schedule rather than one compromise setting for everything.