Drought year 2020 - is artificial irrigation necessary?

If watering, then a lot and all at once. Holding the hose briefly every day doesn't help. It should still be enough for now. Last year we watered the old apple tree 3 or 4 times. However, that was the second extreme summer. Drought is nothing new here, but the heat as well. On the advice of an old gentleman from the gardening club, we cleared the tree circle and are now gradually mulching it thinly with grass clippings.