did you know?

Alba roses have been cultivated since classical antiquity and were brought to France and Britain by the Romans. As their name implies, alba roses typically produce white or the lightest pale-pink flowers.

general maintenance:

When leaf buds open in spring, remove winter-damaged branches, and crossing and weak canes. After early-summer flowering, cut back remaining canes by a third to half. Do not deadhead, as hips are decorative.

pests/diseases:

Fungal diseases (black spot, powdery mildew) may stunt and discolor leaves or defoliate entire shrubs, especially in humid regions. Common pests include aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles.

controls:

To discourage fungal diseases, avoid wetting foliage, and remove and dispose of fallen leaves. Spray a mixture of 4 teaspoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon horticultural oil per gallon of water; repeat weekly. For aphids and spider mites, use horticultural oil, following package directions. Handpick Japanese beetles, and destroy.

how to sow/plant:

Choose a sunny site with fertile, well-drained soil, and amend with well-rotted manure or compost. Plant container-grown roses in spring or fall (at least a month before frost), at the same level they were in the pot. Plant bare-root roses in early spring; before planting, soak entire plant in water for 12-24 hours to replace lost moisture. Dig a 2-by-2-foot hole. Return some soil to hole, forming a 1-foot mound. Place plant on the mound, fanning out roots. In Zones 6 and warmer, set bud union just above soil level. In Zones 5 and colder, set bud union 2-4 inches below soil level. Cover roots with soil, and water thoroughly, but do not fertilize at this time.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season; use soaker hose to give roses an inch of water weekly during dry weather. Once newly planted bare-root roses break dormancy, feed with an all-purpose fertilizer at half rate, following package directions. After the first season, feed with balanced organic fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer at first bloom, and spray bushes with kelp extract in early fall.

garden hint:

To extend the hardiness range a zone or more northward, protect through winter by mounding a mix of 1 part sandy loam and 1 part compost 10 inches high around and over the bases of the bushes. Apply the mix in late fall when cold weather has settled in. Remove half of mix in spring when roses' buds swell, and rake the rest out for mulch.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Deciduous
• Disease Resistant
• Fragrant
• Heirloom

garden uses:

• Edging

other uses:

• Cut Flower
• Potpourri

combine with:

plants that have gray or silver foliage and blue or white flowers. Martha uses lamb’s ears lavender catmint and erect plants, such as foxgloves hollyhocks delphinium, and monkshood which contrast well with the mounding forms of many old garden roses and come in similar colors.