Drip system for deep watering low water plants - Ask Extension
I am converting my lawn into more of a xeriscape with all plants needing deep watering every 1-2 weeks. It seems that the plants like to dry out most...
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Drip system for deep watering low water plants #928327
Asked April 13, 2026, 11:38 PM EDT
I am converting my lawn into more of a xeriscape with all plants needing deep watering every 1-2 weeks. It seems that the plants like to dry out mostly before they are watered. My question is can I manage the deep water followed by drying out with my existing drip system? My concern is that if I let the soil dry out it might take several days of watering to get to the soil wet to the correct depth. I'm thinking maybe running the drip for 3-6 hours each day for maybe 2-3 days and then turning it off for 2 weeks.
Is there any guidance on how to water these plants using a drip system?
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Good Afternoon!
Thank you for reaching out to the Weld County Master Gardeners!
It sounds like you will be planting new plants. In that case, you need to water them every day for at least two weeks in order to get them established first. Then you can start weaning the plants off that regularity after two weeks. For the first year, you should probably water at least 1-2 times a week as the plants establish further. New plants do not have the root structure to absorb water and need more of it as a result. It will take at least a year for a xeric plant to start reaching lower into the soil where the moisture is held.
How much you need to water each plant is dependent upon a handful of things. First, how much water each plant needs (dependent on type of plant). Second, how much water each emitter is emitting. Third, the presence and type of mulch. Fourth, how hot the weather is. Fifth, the type of soil you have.
Drip irrigation is the preferred way to water xeric plants as it is the most efficient way to water and prevents disease due to leaves not getting wet. Soil holds onto water. It is the top layers that dry out. By watering, you are replenishing the top layers, which will keep the lower areas wet. The water doesn't need to reach all the way down. It just needs to keep the soil at the surface from drying out completely for too long and that will keep the soil below from drying out. This is why, when plants are young (not yet established), you need to water more. Because their roots are all at the surface. As they mature, you just need to make sure it doesn't dry out too much below.
You should install emitters that are appropriate for each plant. For example, higher volume emitters for plants that need more water.
To see how long to run your drip irrigation, watch how long it takes the soil to be replenished with water. A hint. 3-6 hours will flood your yard.
Obviously, you'll need to adjust your drip irrigation, so that you have an emitter for each of your new plants and adjust your timing as needed for these new plants. I assume you have sprinklers for your lawn at the moment. You'll need to run new emitters for drip. Also, if you have trees/shrubs already in the area that were being watered by your sprinklers, don't forget to install dripers for those as well.
Here is a link to some resources for drip irrigation and xeric landscaping - https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/water-wise-xeriscape/1903-xeriscape-efficient-irrigation/
Hope this helps!
Sara
Thank you for reaching out to the Weld County Master Gardeners!
It sounds like you will be planting new plants. In that case, you need to water them every day for at least two weeks in order to get them established first. Then you can start weaning the plants off that regularity after two weeks. For the first year, you should probably water at least 1-2 times a week as the plants establish further. New plants do not have the root structure to absorb water and need more of it as a result. It will take at least a year for a xeric plant to start reaching lower into the soil where the moisture is held.
How much you need to water each plant is dependent upon a handful of things. First, how much water each plant needs (dependent on type of plant). Second, how much water each emitter is emitting. Third, the presence and type of mulch. Fourth, how hot the weather is. Fifth, the type of soil you have.
Drip irrigation is the preferred way to water xeric plants as it is the most efficient way to water and prevents disease due to leaves not getting wet. Soil holds onto water. It is the top layers that dry out. By watering, you are replenishing the top layers, which will keep the lower areas wet. The water doesn't need to reach all the way down. It just needs to keep the soil at the surface from drying out completely for too long and that will keep the soil below from drying out. This is why, when plants are young (not yet established), you need to water more. Because their roots are all at the surface. As they mature, you just need to make sure it doesn't dry out too much below.
You should install emitters that are appropriate for each plant. For example, higher volume emitters for plants that need more water.
To see how long to run your drip irrigation, watch how long it takes the soil to be replenished with water. A hint. 3-6 hours will flood your yard.
Obviously, you'll need to adjust your drip irrigation, so that you have an emitter for each of your new plants and adjust your timing as needed for these new plants. I assume you have sprinklers for your lawn at the moment. You'll need to run new emitters for drip. Also, if you have trees/shrubs already in the area that were being watered by your sprinklers, don't forget to install dripers for those as well.
Here is a link to some resources for drip irrigation and xeric landscaping - https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/water-wise-xeriscape/1903-xeriscape-efficient-irrigation/
Hope this helps!
Sara
