Remove all other buds. Don't disbud pompon flowering types. Cultivate the soil deeply once a week until the plant reaches one foot in height. After that use shallow cultivation. Mulch the soil in July to control weeds, conserve moisture, and keep the soil cool.
Dahlias require a large amount of water.
Keep the soil moist but do not saturate it. Water thoroughly enough to wet the soil to a depth of three inches. To use dahlias as cut flowers, cut stems in early morning or late afternoon. Blossoms should be almost fully open when they are cut. Remove the lower leaves and place the stem in 110 degrees Fahrenheit water in a cool, dark location for 24 hours.