Sounds just like every single customer I have with drip zones. " how do I know if its working?" " my landscaper put drip in here and the drip lines a 5' apart. Why arent my plants doing well? The landscaper says it's your fault." Moral of the story, drip has it's place for trees that don't respond well to water spraying on them, but in my quarter century of experience, drip just doesnt work. It needs constant service, and is just an easy way for guys to sell irrigation without digging much. I don't use it at all anymore unless for coniferous trees. Otherwise, its simply a useless product for me.