Dahlia watering advice for DMV

[Anonymous]

I'm in my second year growing dahlias in Arlington. My tubers have sprouted and I've held off watering till the greens appeared. Most of my online reading says to water dahlias rarely but deeply.

But my midwest mother came and watered them almost daily for a week and they look fantastic. In the DMV are we supposed to ignore the watering advice for just once a week. Or is it bc it's been so dry lately? How often do you water your dahlias?

[Anonymous]

You have to use common sense. When it’s hot and dry you need to water often. Dahlias thrive on adequate water once they’re actively growing. Plenty of water and proper feeding will give you abundant blooms. It’s only the tubers that are susceptible to rot when they are newly planted. You have pinched out the plants after 3 sets of leaves and staked them, right?

[Anonymous]

Staked and pinched!