Cool, Dan, most of my focus is on extreme climates. San Bernardino county, where incense cedar is native, is probably much closer in climate to the op than the Warner mountains. Receives 16 inches of rain per year, and has a high temperature of 117 recorded. Incense cedar goes pretty dormant in the summer Dan, and requires less than one inch of rain per month during this time. Incense Cedar; Calocedrus decurrens "Another San Bernadino County Native. These trees should be planted with much more regularity in the High Desert. Flat dark green sprays of foliage and absolutely beautiful scaly, cinnamon colored bark. As the name implies, these trees are very aromatic and when grown as a large specimen, are impressive. You can find a few around Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree; my friends Sam and Michelle have a couple on their property off Buena Vista that are regal! This little guy is about 4 years old, planted as small seedling. It's about 2' high now. I think it's getting ready to start putting on substantial growth. It is not on irrigation, just what it gets from a hose on occasion (rare occasion..)" Here is a link that might be useful: HIgh Desert Pines

I have installed plenty of drip systems that are still fully functional 8 years out, and the plants are very happy as well. The one fact that you tend to gloss over with your praise of "real" irrigation systems, is that the above ground spray is never going to be as efficient in getting maximum water to the roots; a good percentage of the spray is lost to wind and evaporation, on even the most efficient spray systems. I would agree that there isn't much point in putting in drip systems if the landscape design utilizes a majority of high water using plants, or plants that prefer being wet down to avoid insect problems, or where ground covers that root as they spread are being used. In all these cases, it is still possible to use a combination of drip emitters and microspray or misters for the irrigation that is required. The one real advantage I find with installing drip irrigation is that you can target water where it is needed, rather than watering everything. Drip systems also allow for planting different water needing plants in close proximity, and using multiple lines on different valves, a wet plant can be planted next to a dry plant, and both can be happy. Conventional spray systems don't usually allow for such flexibility. Drip irrigation also typically uses much less water to irrigate a given area than spray irrigation does, I don't think there is any debate on this point. As to cost of installation, I don't find that there is that great of a difference between the two types of systems, I never sell my clients on the idea that drip will be less expensive to install, as it typically takes more time to add all the emitters than it would to trench, bury and install fixed spray heads. The savings come over time, with less water used. I do find that animals chewing on drip lines can sometimes be a problem, but this is only occasionally a problem here in most SF Bay Area gardens. As to maintenance, I usually find it sufficient to check the operation of valves once a month, and to clean out filters at the valve once a year. When I have installed battery operated valves, I generally recommend that the client check the battery at least every 6 months. I don't expect to change anyone's mind about which type of system is better; as I don't think anyone can say that one type is always better than another. It really boils down to the actual circumstances of the garden, how it is being planted, soil types, slopes involved, level of maintenance to be provided, etc. I wouldn't continue to install drip irrigation systems if they didn't work, or presented as many disadvantages as you claim they "always" do. In particular, drip systems have real merit and no equal with container plantings on decks and patios, where their ease of installation and operation have no equal. I find that I can install a drip irrigation with large planters and virtually guarantee that the plants will thrive with very little attention required on my part. The results speak for themselves. For homeowners that are interested in installing drip in a more efficient, less hit or miss way, it makes sense to have the system designed by a drip irrigation consultant/outlet that knows their stuff. Two local firms here in the San Francisco Bay Area that will provide free design assistance when buying their materials would include Irrigation Equipment Company here in Berkeley, and the Urban Farmer Store with several outlets in the Bay Area. They both provide occasional free classes on design and installation for homeowners, as well. Either of these firms will be able to point a homeowner in the right direction to use the most appropriate design, materials and method of installation to best match their circumstances. I have no vested interest in either company, but do buy from both of them on a regular basis, and also install both conventional spray as well as drip irrigation systems, with a 10 year and counting maintenance follow up on some of the older gardens I have installed. I haven't found any clients to be complaining about having installed drip in all this time, except where wild animals have become a problem with chewing of lines and/or emitters, and this has mostly only been a problem in specialized designs where I was using drip misters in trees to wet down epiphytic orchids, bromeliads and rhipsalis, and squirrels would chew off the mister heads. Ultimately I was able to resolve the problem by relocating mister heads so that they were mounted on the underside of tree branches rather than the tops of branches, which were more easily accessible to squirrels.

LOL!! Original post is now almost 18 months old. I would have assumed the OP has already addressed their landscape needs. And if they have not yet, then skip the recommendation for David Austin roses.....or pretty much any other type of roses. Except for a few landscape type roses, they are not at all low maintenance!!

I've noticed that whatever size is printed on the tag or is claimed on the Internet, is about half of the real final size. In their desire to see quick results people are prone to getting fast growing plants that soon get out of bounds. I think it's better not to rush it as time seems to pass quickly as soon as one focusing on other things. With water and fertilizer I find most plants to grow reasonably fast. There are always exceptions but as a general rule, they do.