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A line source irrigation system was used to create a water application gradient and determine establishment requirements for native Sonoran desert shrubs and trees. Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora var. veluntina, catclaw acacia (Acacia greggii), blue pale verde (Cercidium floridum) and jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) all established when 2 weeks of irrigation were followed by summer rainfall. Jojoba seedlings emerged about 2 weeks later than those of the other species. Because the soil profile was initially at field capacity, the line source system mainly created a difference in water availability between irrigated and unirrigated soils. This study suggests a possible strategy for using in-place irrigation systems to revegetate farmlands during the first year of abandonment. Soils could be heavily irrigated after sowing to fill the soil profile. Subsequent irrigation for about 2 weeks to keep the soil surface wet until seedlings emerge should result in high establishment. For the coarse-loamy soil in this study that would require about 5 to 10 cm of total irrigation. Establishment on drier areas sites with finer-textured soils would require more water.