Hello, Russ32. I have my drip system set to water for approximately one hour an amount equivalent to 1 gallon of water. I do not use emitters but tubing with holes. Using emitters on potted shrubs became a hassle as my pooches kept causing problems. Potted camellias ended up having to be planted. Other plants remained potted but I have to hand water them.

The watering time is adjusted to provide more water as summer arrives (in May here) and for larger plants. Of course, I reduce the time back in the Fall.

I find that during the worst of the summer, July-August, I will have to hand water water-sensitive shrubs manually to compensate for 100-115 degree weather.

I first set up the shrub near a single emitter but as the plants gets bigger, I add more tubing in a circle or square around the base to provide water for more roots. Oddly, if I were to do things again from scratch, I may consider keeping the regular sprinkler and add the drip. The regular sprinkler would be of limited use but it would let me water all the shrubs (at once) after I am done applying the fertilizer. It would also be of use when trying to water during the worst of the summer.

The drip got me in trouble one time when bunnies or squirrels cut into the tubing and some shubs were not getting water. Once I noticed the problem, I was able to correct it. With a regular sprinkler, I probably would not have had that problem but who knows, I would probably then be one of those people who accidentally runs the mower on top of the sprinkler heads and then hears a metallic crunchy sound. Hee hee hee!

I also added some kind of barrier separating the bed from the grassy areas so I would not accidentally mow near/on top of the tubing. I always cover the tubing with mulch but sometimes the mulch either blows away, gets degraded or my dogs eat it. I once came close to mowing were I should not so the barrier now keeps the shrubs safe from ole me.

You may want to set up multiple stations for shrubs with similar watering needs. Meaning you may want transplant all big plants into an area where one station can take care of their watering and use a second station for plants who are small and only need a smaller amt of water.