Out with the drip

I had to try something extreme. I decided to remove all drip irrigation to the area and leave it bone dry for a few months. I cleared out the weeds and ground cover. Tossed out the irrigation tubes. Capped off the PVC pipe. Mixed in some "super phosphate" (0-45-0) per recommendation of a nurseryman, to stimulate root growth. Left the soil barren, except for some mulch at the shrubs. Then just hand-watered the entire small area with a slow garden hose for up to half an hour each standing, and never more often than once a week during these very dry days. I did this for several weeks after the self-imposed drought. I don't know if it's too late. Or if weekly hand-watering is still too much. The soil did seem sandy dry before each watering.

This pittosporum looked sadly like a maple in winter.
Click on image to compare to Spring.
Pittosporum undulatum or Victorian box or Cheesewood.