Bad Luck with Rosemary

I've had bad luck with rosemary in the past with it just turning brown and dying. I'm going to try again and will be sure not to overwater it! How far apart should I plant upright rosemary and is it okay to plant reasonably close to a rose (but not so close that the rose fertilizer and manure dressing get to it)? I want to plant three to five pots.

Your question does not make it clear if you are losing the rosemary during the summer, or if it dies during the winter. Rosemary is hardy in zones eight to ten and will die if left out during the winter in a zone lower than seven. In zone seven it would have to be carefully protected or you could use the hardiest variety 'Arp'.
If you lost it in the summer or a winter indoors, the likliest cause was probably letting the plant dry out even once. This kills the roots just as surely as overwatering. Since the plant has such needle-like leaves, it takes awhile for the death to be apparent!
I know of no reason why you could not plant the rosemary close to a rose.