Most drip irrigation systems are simple, and easy to install. If you have a row of plants that need water simply attach a drip tape or a soaker hose onto your timer. If you have trees and shrubs, use drip tube with trickle emitters for each plant. These same trickle emitters can even be used to water potted plants. If you have a flower bed, try the micro-spray heads.
Drip irrigation is inexpensive, easy to install, and extremely efficient.
If you are going to water, you might as well do it right. And for areas other than turfgrass, the advantages which drip irrigation offers are hard to beat.