My ninebark shrubs are looking thin and sickly. they are several years old--what can I do to rejuvenate them? they are the red variety
You can do a severe prune during dormancy to help rejuvenate your shrubs.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/ninebark/growing-ninebark-shrubs.htm
I have 2 winecup ninebark bushes that I am unable to find pruning advice nor mature size info.
I can't find any reference to "winecup ninebark" so something in your name is amiss, I fear. Post a picture on any of the web plant ID sites and get a firm ID. We'll go from there. If it is ninebark, Physocarpus, treat it like many flowering shrubs. It blooms in the spring; prune right after bloom is over - definitely before July 4. Pruning after that will be removing next year's blooms. Remove 1/3 of the oldest stems every year to contain the overall size and keep young, more heavily blooming stems. Ninebark is prone to powdery mildew in hot, dry weather so I like to make sure there is good air circulation, especially at the bottom where the arching stems reach the ground.
Would it be OK to trim off the branches of my ninebark that have grown so much taller than the rest of the plant? I realize these are the new growth branches but the shrub looks rather unsightly with the tall stragglers on top. It's July.
Ninebark wants to make long arching branches. That is its natural form. If you want to fight with mother nature, prune right after bloom. It won't kill the shrub to prune now but pruning does spur more growth. That new growth may not be able to harden off before winter arrives. Late pruning also sacrifices some of next year's bloom. Are you removing 20-30% of the oldest wood annually? Ask yourself if the shrub is in a big enough location to grow naturally. If not, you will have an on-going irritant as you try to keep it in place. In early spring before leaves emerge, you can cut it down and transplant to a larger area, if necessary.
is it practical?
Its much easier and less risky strategy is to start a second plant from stem cuttings or suckers. Here is the how-to. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-root-cuttings-from-various-shrubs-bushes-and-trees.htm
I have it in a narrow space and want to make it columnar.... How to prune??? thanks kerry
Kerry, you are trying to put a round, arching plant into the wrong space, I'm afraid. Ninebark looks and flowers best when allowed to form arching stems that reach the ground. It is a fast grower and you would have to prune it at least twice a year to keep it columnar. This will remove many of next year's blooms. If you give it a try, prune out the oldest wood to the ground after it blooms in spring. Trim wayward stems back to a lateral shoot that is growing in the direction you want. Consider growing red-twig dogwood, Cornus servicea. It can be pruned almost to the ground in early spring to contain the size and keep the twigs a brilliant red. This is one dogwood that does not have significant flowers so trimming in summer or early fall isn't a problem.
Its early june I need to move my 9 bark shrub. Can I do it without loosing the flowers?
The best time to transplant a shrub is during the late fall/early winter, after it has gone dormant. This places less stress on the plant. Transplanting is unavoidable stressful on plants and shrubs, and if done at the wrong time, you may not only lose your blooms but possibly the entire shrub.
Here are a couple of articles that you might find helpful:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/best-times-for-transplanting.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/ninebark/growing-ninebark-shrubs.htm
Can you tell me why my nine bark shrubs are only blooming on the bottom branches? There are many new branches on the top but no flowers. Thanks
If you must prune, prune right after blooming. Ninebarks bloom in the spring on the prior woods growth, so summer or fall pruning is still the answer. Pruning is done to maintain shape and in some cases you may end up sacrificing blooms for one year if you desire a more compact shrub.