It really depends on the roses. Can you give us some names?

Here they are, in order of planting from left to right: Nacogdoches, Brite Lites, F.J. Lindheimer, Mme. Alfred Carriere, Splendor [new Ray Ponton hot pink shrub], Clair Matin, Folksinger, Pegasus, Bright Melody [Buck], James Galway, Outta The Blue, Golden Celebration, Benjamin Britten, Crepuscule, Lady of Megginch, Roberta Bondar, Permanent Wave, New Dawn, Cameron Bohls [red shrub], Compassion, Coquette des Blanches, Orange Triumph, Lotus, Autumn Sunset, Leander. They are all growing well, in a prime location, and are easily watered/cared for, and though I am antsy to plant more to give a full look........dont want to do it if these will, after some time, grow to fill in the space. I dont want a tangled mess as I want each rose to stand out and shine on its own......but! If I could squeeze a few more in that would be great. Just wanted some expert advice.........Thanks!
Judith

I think I'd look for low growing varieties and put them in between the eight foot centers but move them about 18-24 inches from the fence.
Another idea would be to use the low growing ground cover roses to cover up the knobby knees of some of the taller growers.

My idea is the same as chuck_billie, which is to find smaller roses and plant them not only between but forward of the other roses. That will make it look fuller without having a tangled mess of long canes to contend with. Polyanthas might be a good class for this; Vintage offers quite a few. As a contrast and to break the monotony of roses only, I'd plant reblooming irises between the roses or other plants with contrasting shapes. I'm sure this whole area could be very beautiful.

Ingrid

Of course you will plant roses between and forward from your 8' centers. Then you will plant roses between and forward from those. Then you will squeeze in one on each end. Then you will dig up your lawn, add trellises to your walls, and build a pergola over your driveway. You will become overcrowded just like everyone else here.

Oh, no! Alameda MIGHT have more restraint than the rest of us!
It's possible.
:-)

Jeri

Naw.....no way. You should see my pot ghetto. Its like the "2 car garage and still adding on" song by Willie Nelson. Always room for one more. So....I take it ya'll think I could squeeze more roses in on those 8 foot centers??? I wont even have to buy them - they are waiting in the ghetto!
Judith

More Roses=Better

Put some between each one and then plant miniatures in front of all of them at a diagonal... Prune to fit...

More Roses.
Less Lawn.

Grass is ecologically undesirable.

Plant more roses.

Jeri

Wether they fill in or not depends on the particular rose. Crepuscule positively will fill in its place but Folksinger, for example, is a 4'x4' shrub in my garden. I think the largest Bucks do not exceed 5'x5' maybe six.
Compassion is a fairly upright growing climber that I attempt growing as a tall shrub but it does not seem to require 8' distance from the next rose. So, I believe, you do have space to plant more roses :-). Also, I agree with the recommendations above that in case of potentially large climbers you could plant a lower growing shrub (Austin or Buck) in between the 8' pots but at 2-3 feet distance 'stepping forward' not in front of them, rather in between them, imagine a kind of V shape arrangement.

Judith, can you tell me something about Bright Melody? I wasn't/am not familiar with this Buck. The photo on HMF is appealing. My question regards disease resistance - is it a truly disease resistant rose like Earth Song said to be?

Other Buck collectors also can chime in if it isn't considered sidetracking the original thread. I am very interested in those Buck roses that are disease resistant in the humid south.

Ceterum, this is my first year for Bright Melody. I have just seen one bloom on it and its lovely, a bright red. So far, havent seen blackspot, but I spray. It is growing well, putting out lots of buds. I think the buds coming on now will be really pretty - seems the first bloom is not quite as productive as later ones. But so far.....I like it. Its much like Griff's Red, not quite as bright. I love Griff's Red, so expecting nice things from this one. I have not found a Buck rose I did not like!
Judith