Malcolm Manners has reported here that Marechal Niel is very unforgiving of pruning. Check out his remarks on the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marechal Niel

Hi JB,

I moved a climbing Mme Cecile Brunner that was about the size of the Marechal Niel you describe.

I did wait until (what passes for) winter here in the SFV, so the rose would suffer the least shock possible. Also used an old sheet and twine to tie and protect the canes. This worked well.

Happy to hear Felicite Parmentier is doing well for you. I also have a Felicite Parmentier (which I'm going to move up to a 2 gallon pot this weekend) and an Alba Maxima. I've been concerned I might not get enough winter chill for these Albas to thrive...but I love them so much I had to give them a try.

I also have a Marechal Niel (and other Tea Noisettes) in the pot collection, so it sounds like we have some some common tastes.

Bill (who lives in Encino)

Thanks jaxondel & Bill. I will not be moving it until it finishes blooming as it is covered with luscious smelly yellow blooms. I may try to gather up all the canes as I did FP--as you said Bill--with twine and plastic. I just know it is going to be a difficult move, but I think it will work better with lots of room. Right now it is hard to see the blooms as they are the nodding sort and many of them are lying on the ground. It is such a tangle of canes and thorns, I guess I will keep the peroxide handy when I finally move it.

Thanks again,
Joanne

Joanne, when you say finish blooming, do you mean after the spring flush, or after this fall's?

At least where I am I would not want to move a rose just before the heat of summer. Others with more expertise than myself will hopefully pipe in, but this is a move I'd try to make in the winter when the rose is (semi)dormant.

Bill

Mallcolm Manners has indicated to me that Marechal Niel is extremely unforgiving of any pruning, even with only taking a foot or so off of it overall. You may lose this rose by moving it, especially with the weather warming up. Perhaps you have no choice in doing so, but if you can avoid it I wouldn't move it.

I have a Marechal Niel from Malcolm that is on fortuniana, and it is virus free. This makes for a very robust and well adapted plant for Florida. Marechal is growing very well and I love it, but I can tell that it is not one of the "typical" old roses. It does seem to be a rather fragile beauty, and I'll tell you why I think this.

A month or so ago I groomed all of my rose bushes and part of my grooming includes stripping off leaves that are spotted or otherwise unhealthy looking. I then use liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion and Mills easy feed. Marechal Niel sat there glaring at me and was trying to decide if it would punish me in some way, like maybe committing suicide. I'm talking big time sulk. I had been very worried about what I did, but today (FINALLY!) it is leafing out vigorously again.

This is one touchy rose. Absolutely worth it, but not very forgiving.

Sandy

Who knows why this is, but I whack back my Maréchal Niel vigorously and it never complains. But, and this may be important, I leave it lots of long canes and prune off secondary growth. I think it just likes Italy, because for me it's very unfussy.

Melissa

I moved my MN from Tampa to Thonotosassa in early 2001. It had just sat there at the old place for four years. Basically, one four foot cane. Here, it has been fairly tame with a few very long canes. I have had a big problem with it balling.

I must move it though. If it expires, then I will replace the wayside corpse with a fort grafted.

I have an 'own root' MN from Vintage. The Vintage MN grows up and over an arch in their garden. It is about 8 to 10 feet tall and looks quite robust. My MN has been growing steadily and seems to be a strong grower as well. I will wait until after fall bloom and move it then. I will try to leave it unpruned for the move. I have a 8 foot tall fence space that is just calling out for MN and its nodding blooms, so I must give this move a try. Thanks for all the advice and I will let you all know how it goes.