That's how it begins and your idea is as good a reason as any.
But do you really need a reason to add more flower beds?

When I was slowly stealing lawn, I'd sneak a little here and there. Magically my beds would be large enough to plant more roses. When she finally caught on it was too late.

Stealth is a common way to do it and, as Karl says, there comes a point when it's game over for the lawn.
I've found that groups of three can be quite striking, so your plan seems sound.

imho the planting in groups or a hedge has maximum impact if you want to make a strong first impression. But if you want to create a lasting interest, plant different roses. I get up in the morning grab some coffee and the dog, and walk the yard looking at every rose. If i just had a hedge of the same rose, i would probably just look at one or a couple and end my walk early. I think from a distance many of the same probably looks better, but up close and personal, my money is on variety. And besides, when i see three of something, i am more inclined to think, oh textbook landscaping principles, rather than, this person is creative and interesting. Just my 2 cents.

Here the David Austin roses get so big that 3 would take up a huge amount of space in a few years. THe first year they would look great but after that I would be hacking them back to get through the yard! My Teasing Georgia is about 6 years old and grows 10 feet by 10 feet..can you imagine 3 of them?

We have a small hill located on left side of the front yard which I felt was a prime location for modern roses. It is facing east and could probably have the space large enough for 50 mature HTs. It has a fence at one end that could take at least 5 climbers. Thus, when I realized I had the inclination to grow modern roses, I went to my wife to pitch this brilliant idea.

I told her that I wanted to go back to painting as a hobby but my motor skills have left me. But I told her that I could use the hill instead as my canvas and the rose as my medium for this "painting". Further, it is going to a dynamic one, the flushing of the roses will give it movement. Stunned, she thought for a moment, and then she said ok.

It has been 8 years since then. I have toiled hard to get to a collection matching the painting in my head. I tried to use 3 roses of the same shade, instead of 3 of the same roses. I had to do this to give me flexibility in facilitating softer transition between colors and still get good definition. Each year, after the 3rd year, my wife would ask when my "painting" will be complete. I always replied, "IÂm close". Yearly kills, removal of under and non- performing plants, wrong color or height etc, makes it an impossible and daunting task.

The best compliment I received so far from a buddy was "it must be hard to negotiate between bushes". My good neighbor calls it "roses in steroids". My other neighbor thinks the cumulative scent is too much. So, I continue to work at it until somebody says "you know, that could be a nice painting."

Lesson is be brave and have fun.

So glad to hear I am not alone in my sneaky assault on the lawn! Sometimes I'm just "straightening out a crooked spot" and sometimes I am "getting rid of that straight line."
Cammonro, do you have a photo of the area you are about to claim with your roses? I think six is much nicer than two, so if you need a justification for six roses then yes, it is much, much better to plant them in threes. In fact, in keeping with the never plant in twos, perhaps you need nine.
Renee

I planted Heritage in a group of three about 18" apart (following the instructions on DHÂs site) 5 years ago.
Others told me that I had planted them too close and that I should move them apart while there was still time. That there wouldnÂt be enough air circulation, that theyÂd get too big, etc.
I canÂt tell you how glad I am that I didnÂt succumb to the pressure. Heritage is an easily managed rose, the group is very healthy, and is an incredible sight when in bloom.
Oh, and IÂd vote for a group of three Heritage. Three different roses planted close together may look awkward, especially if they happen to have differing growth habits.

Thanks for the great feedback everyone. I have to admit I got a good chuckle out of all this discussion of gardening subterfuge.

Wow! Lizalily - I didn't know these roses got that big. I thought they'd get maybe 5' or so based on the tags. mike5953 I'm intrigued by your planting experience. How big has your hedge gotten? Any pics?

I really like the Heritage and am eager to try Jude the Obscure based on what I hear about it's fragrance. If I had no room for other roses I'd be content (for now ;-) ...). I thought the pink and yellow would look fine together color wise but have no experience regarding their two different growth habits.

I'll have to see if I can get a good photo to upload of the space.

Cammonro: Unfortunately I don't have any photos that show the Heritage planting. IÂll have to take one next time thereÂs a really good flush of blooms.
I prune the bushes back to about 5 feet while deadheading after each flush. With the exception of a couple odd extra long canes that usually only appear after I get a bit too heavy-handed with the fertilizer, it usually only puts on about 12 inches of growth between flushes.

Mike, it certainly sounds like a manageable hedge. is that 5' high, wide or both? All told about how much square footage does your hedge of 3 bushes take up?

Renee, attached are some photos of my patio area where I planted the Heritage. I have included four different angles. The Heritage is on the left towards the back between the meadow sage. I'm still new at this. The whole area is a bit of a work in progress but I'm gathering that kind of defines gardening in general.

At any rate, we have a decent size back yard that I want to keep some lawn open for when the kids get older for playing ball, maybe a swing set etc.

Thoughts anyone?

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Sorry about thatÂ
ItÂs in close proximity to a group of three Graham Thomas thatÂs kept at the same size.
So, itÂs pruned to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
With its upright growth, it rarely needs much attention to keep it in its horizontal boundaries.
Those are beautiful photos by the way.

A group of three roses of the same variety planted in a tight triangular pattern mingle their canes and visually merge into a single, extra dense shrub, which I think is the whole point of Austin's advice. The additional space required is determined, not by the widths of the individual plants, but by the distance between them. An 18" spacing as per the Austin recommendation isn't going to consume a huge amount of extra space even with a large, sprawling rose like Teasing Georgia.

Not that I think TG needs this sort of trickery. It's not something I've done with many of my roses, but I have found it to be very useful for giving small, lightly caned cultivars a more commanding garden presence than they might otherwise have, or for fattening up roses that want to grow tall and narrow. In other words, I consider doing it when I have reason to doubt that a single plant will provide quite enough oomph on its own. I'd probably do it more if I had more space, though. It does work, and the resulting compound shrub isn't even triangular.

You have quite a bit of real estate to work with! I know you're asking about groupings but I must say that if you needs some tips for convincing your DW ... here's what works on a DH ... first, I encourage him to play golf as much as possible. He has a stressful job so I want him to be happy, right? Once he's happy, doesn't he want me to be as happy as possible? Sure he does so I ask if I can have some stone delivered to edge the garden beds. He says sure and then I'm off and running. By the time he's done playing golf and I'm done edging, the next thing you know the beds are larger for more "impact". I tell him he is now in the "tremendous rewards program" which is another story. It's all good :-)

Thanks Mike! Your hedge certainly seems manageable. Rosyone, your input is also very valuable. I think I'm going to give it a go starting with just adding two more Heritage in the tight 18" spacing before this one gets much bigger. I just checked the nursery where I bought my Heritage this spring and they only have one left but since I need two, I'll probably have to wait until spring. -Sigh-

Bloominganne, I hear ya. It's mainly for the kids I want to keep that nice big stretch of green. I guess I'll just have to take over the front yard. No one's going to be playing badminton or volleyball out there. :)