re: Need some serious help with landscaping. (Pics included)

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Yes - it was running for 3 days per week for 30 or so minutes. I am assuming it all started to die due to underwatering and the extreme heat.

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ETA: My biggest concern about the drip irrigation is that I know the output is extremely slow. So how can one determine how much water is enough? For instance my front flower bed doesn't have any trees in it. So the front should get a shorter run time than the flower bed that has 3 trees in it. But how much longer?

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With my micro-irrigation system, I use spray heads, instead of slow drip emitters, which put out a great deal more water in a short period of time - this on the recommendation of the owner of irrigation supply company I buy supplies, he discouraged me using drip emitter heads, which as I recall are more expensive. 360 degree spray heads like these LINK

I run my system no more than 30 minutes once a week, and only in the absence of at least 1 inch of rain during the week. And I do track rainfall and only supplement water to the landscape beds with the irrigation system when needed. When first installed, like you, I watered shrubs 3 times a week, and I killed more than a few from excess watering/root rot. I learned quickly.

Better to give the landscape one good soaking once week - excess water will run off - as opposed to more frequent, shallow watering. Your issue could be more associated with the frequency of watering.

Of course my experience is with south LA - you deal with more temperature extremes, hot and cold, in DWF - so the experience and advice of those that live in your area is important.