I've had the most success with propogation when I did it during the summer months. Don't know why, but it's something I've seen over and over. I've also never never ever lost a rose of any size when I pruned it after April when it was actively growing and all cool nights are over. I have lost roses from my early spring pruning, or even (trying to learn from that lesson) pruning around the time of the first flush. Again, I don't know why, I just know that I've killed a lot of roses through spring pruning. That being said, I wouldn't prune any small roses except for the reason you've listed: propogation.

It is up to you. No deterrent. They could bloom a week or so later. Or, not. All depends on the weather. If you don't prune them, and if they are hybrid teas, they will get really tall, and you will have blooms way up there. I didn't prune the past two years, and all of the blooms on the hybrid teas were 7'+ in the air. Delightful (not). So, down they will go this year. If I prune as usual, by the beginning of June (I usually prune at the end of March), the plants are full and 4' - 5' tall. When I prune, I typically have a minimum of 2" of new growth and some plants are totally leafed out by the time I prune. I have some plants with 2" of growth now. No matter, off it goes. But, if you don't want to, don't. Then, take a look at them after they bloom and proceed as hoovb said. Don't overthink pruning.

seil: I've had this peace rose for about 5 or 7 years now and its always grown the same way... in a large T shape and always full of blooms along that top T line. This last year its been a real pain. I have had it tied up along a fence then moved it and tied it up along a flat straight up trellis attached to the side of our redwood shed. This year its been a real brat and not wanting to cooperate with me. Hopefully now that I've hacked it down to the stump and this new growth is taking off, it will look better. When I had it along the fence my neighbor would come out and cut it down level with the top of the fence. Every year I saw buds starting to form the next day I would come out and look to see the entire top level with the top of the fence. So my husband and I dug it up and moved it away from that fence where the neighbor couldn't reach it. ANYTHING that grows up above the top of that fence they hack right off. Yes I've asked them not to touch our things. Even balled my eyes out after they dug up my flowers from my front yard right before mothers day this year. I yelled at them through tears on mothers day... Would you PLEASE leave my yard alone!! Stop touching my things!! Mind your own property and leave ours alone!! We still hold out hope that the peace rose is going to look better next year now that its out of the reach of our hacker happy neighbor.

Especially the lychee which is particularly drought sensitive when young, but mulch benefits almost all plants in Florida, particularly an organic mulch which will decompose eventually. Gary