IMO, unless you're flooding a hydrangea, I'm not terribly concerned with root rot. They seem to love more water than they should be able to handle. I had an ES next to a leaky spigot, and that plant got hammered in water constantly. It grew and bloomed like a champ. I transplanted a large one in spring, and despite trying to water it every other day, it was showing signs of stress, so I've been giving it a good soak every morning, right in the center.

I use drip in my amended clay soil too and have not had a problem. But that does not mean there may be problems with some plant out there... or tree.