Question
Live in DFW area of Texas.  In July planted fairly large Variegated Privets (4-5) to be used as a hedge.  Kept them watered daily on drip lines/bubblers for an hour a day in summer and now by hand in winter.
Problem is they look very barren, yellow, and just not healthy.  Have I been watering too much?  What could be the problem and is it reversible?

Answer
Perhaps so.  Variegated privet (Ligustrum sinense) tolerates sun, heat and drought, but is susceptible to root rot in wet or heavy soil when watered frequently, especially an hour a day! Armillaria root rot (Armillaria mellea), also called oak root rot, and can form mushrooms at the base of the canes. Dematophora root rot (Dematophora or Rosellinia necatrix ) invades canes and branches and twigs with white spores. Control irrigation to combat these fungi.  Privates are also susectible to anthracnose, sometimes called twig blight. The disease attacks new shoots causing dieback and leaves, first appearing in brownish spots and eventually spreading across entire leaves.  

Privets are generally a tough plant, and should spring back quickly with reduced irrigation.  Less care is actually "more". Also, the variegation itself is a benign mutation and may at some point revert back to solid green. It is not guaranteed to do that, but jus thought you might want to know.

(info thanks to Laura Reynolds, Demand Media)