Hi misslisamham: Since you are in zone 10, CA, without much rain ... I WOULD NOT MOVE it. Even in my heavy rain Chicagoland, moving an established rose is very stressful ... my Knockouts became bare, zero leaves for many months after moving.

When the roots are deep, like Austin Mary Rose, it's still alive even with 1 month of no-watering, but it won't bloom. The best way is to pile fertile, organic stuff on top: leaves are OK, but the nutrients are low. My best result is to pile alfalfa hay on top. It's sold for $8 for a HUGE bundle at the feed store. Why? Alfalfa hay has NPK of 2.5-1-2, plus very good moisture retention, and ZERO SALT.

Alfalfa hay works as a mulch to retain moisture, plus much more: 1) As it breaks down, it releases nitrogen for leaf growth, and potassium for root-growth 2) As it breaks down, it neutralizes alkaline tap water (CA tap water is alkaline, I have 3 sisters both in northern & southern CA).

If you want it to bloom then heavy prune it, mulch with alfalfa hay. Make a well around the root to retain water, then water it DEEPLY once at week (5 gallons). I would put in 1 used lemon rind for vitamin C, 1/2 used lemon is enough to bring 2 gallon alkaline tap water (over 7.5) to that of rain water (pH 5.6). Vitamin C is known to stimulate plant growth.

I won't use fertilizer with salt, if not enough rain. Alfalfa hay (zero salt) plus water will supply the nutrients needed for blooming. I have very deep root Radio Times rose right next to a tree. I never water it, but it's still alive and bloom twice a year when we got rain.

If you don't want to commit to regular watering & blooming, then I would prune it very lightly. Prune only if there is enough water to regenerate new growth (it takes lots of water just to grow a few inches).

Austin roses can take shade well, if there's enough water. It's very gloomy in my zone 5a, late fall. We get just a few hours of sunshine, and Austin roses still bloom, if given plenty of rain water.

Thanks for this thorough advice! Much appreciated. I should have noted that the rose has continued to bloom (somewhat miraculously). Still, I will take your advice and go for the alfalfa mulch and heavy prune, and see if I can't get the bush back to optimal health.

Great info! The more I read on this forum, the more notes I make for simple things I can do to help my garden this year. I have an older Blush Noisette in a neglected area of my garden - going to give this a try. Good luck on reviving your Mary rose.