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  • Answered by
    MichiganDot on
    July 16, 2017
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    MichiganDot on
    July 20, 2017
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    MichiganDot on
    April 18, 2018
    A.

    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

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  • Answered by
    MichiganDot on
    April 21, 2018
    A.

    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.

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  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    June 5, 2018
    A.

    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/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/ninebark/growing-ninebark-shrubs.htm

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  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    June 14, 2018
    A.

    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.

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