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I think I made a mistake planting Ninebark Summer Wine

8 years ago

I planted 3 of them along my fence line for privacy, but I think the arching habit will take up a lot of space in my narrow yard. I created a mulch bed along the fence line to make it easier to mow, but with the arching habit, they come down to the ground and still make it hard to mow. I should have done something with an upright habit. I have 5 arborvitae's to start the row along the fence line, then the 3 ninebark summer wines and at the end I planted a cardinal candy viburnum. Should I remove the ninebarks, or is it possible to prune them into a more upright shape? Thanks for any help in advance.

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Comments (8)

cercis47
8 years ago
We have the same problem. I did prune mine down to 12 inches this spring (plants are 4 + years old) and they are leafing up nicely. I will post re size in July but I expect them to be kept in check. I do love them....
Marie Tulin
8 years ago
Arching is their habit, their natural form. In the long run you'll have to keep pruning. They can be pruned back every year to a couple of feet and that will keep them smaller, but they'll still want to arch.

Since you are having doubts so early in the game you either move them now or experiment this season. Moving them in the fall is a good time anyway.

How many times have I practiced the horticultural axiom " Wrong Plant, Wrong PLace."?

Marie
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katrina_ellen
Original Author
8 years ago
cercis - I could do that too, I do really like them but I don't know that I am willing to do all that pruning every year. Good Luck.

Marie - that's what I thought. I will cut them back after they bloom and see what happens.
Embothrium
8 years ago
If you keep cutting them back you'll end up with stubby plants.
whaas_5a
8 years ago
Yes, shrubby plants and arching. You'll want to pick the strongest stems and selectively thin them out if you want a more upright plant.

They'll arch very little after a couple years.

One thing to mention is if your plants don't get good air circulation and are in dry soil they will get powdery mildew. They aren't not good as hedges, only solitary plants.

I can post examples of my ninebarks if you're interested.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Can you put them in a corner where they can fill the corner and not take up as much of the yard width? IMO, pruning them isn't an aesthetically pleasing solution.
PRO
Select Landscapes of Iowa
8 years ago
Whaas,

Not trying to hijack the discussion but just curious which cultivars you've observed the most/least mildew on. Here Coppertina, Dart's Gold and Center Glow get covered in mildew, while Lady in Red, Summer Wine and Little Devil are better but can still contract the disease in the right conditions.

Just started planting Amber Jubilee and Lemon Candy two years ago and have yet to observe any mildew on them. Time will tell!

Bruce
katrina_ellen
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all for the info., that really helps me make a decision. I prefer to let a plant grow naturally without trying to change it's shape, so looks like I will be planting something thats more suitable. Really appreciate the feedback.

Waas - I am sure you are more experianced than me at pruning techniques so I am better off making it simple - but thanks for the offer of pictures - I appreciate it.

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