Not sure what you consider small for the space but this is good advice listed below. More of my experience first though. Ninebark does set buds on old wood. So ever few years or so when you need to cut it far back you will lose buds for that year. Otherwise cutting it back a 1/3 after it flowers is just right. I actually planted a Diablo hedge and wanted the large size and it just wasn't get there, it was very leggy. Cutting it back got the desired results. Ater that I only use ninebark sparingly in moist sites with good air circulation. In humid and dry sites they are EXTREMELY susepctible to powdery mildew. I learned that the hard way after I was told ninebark was drought tolerate. Sure it is, but if its humid out, look out PM! Coppertina by far has superior color to all others. Its the only one that should be used in my opinion. What I love best about ninebark is the way it tolerates different pruning methods. When left alone for years to grow into a medium to large shrub, the only care it needs is to remove dead wood, or to thin out a quarter of the stems each year in the winter or spring, right down to the base, to maintain a bushy habit. This rejuvenates the plant, helping to prevent a leggy appearance, and encourages the production of flowers and fruit. Ninebark also responds well to being clipped back by half every few years in order to keep it in check, particularly if used in a foundation planting. This should be done right after flowering, so the shrub has time to form new buds for the following season. The easiest pruning method of all, however, is to cut ninebark back to a height of 15 to 20 centimetres in the spring before it leafs out. This technique is known as coppicing, and results in a flush of new growth with particularly large and lush foliage�absolutely stunning in the coloured-leaf forms�though it comes at the expense of both blooms and seedheads. The lush growth and more compact size resulting from hard pruning makes ninebark especially wonderful in a perennial border, placed in the middle to back. Plants should be allowed to establish for two to three years before using this method, however, and it should be done only every other year since it temporarily weakens them.

Hello- I have about 5 different ones and I keep all of mine in pots. They are all going to die back soon anyways. I then keep all the pots in the shed and they come back out in March or so. Most of mine are still in bloom and have new shoots coming out...should die back around Dec. I guess you could plant them in the ground. I would be worried the rain and cold might rot the rhizomes. Hope this helps!

@Liz Bell summer romance prefers full sun here in the south and they do not burn in all day sun. As long as they get 6 or more hours of sun it does well Mine got afternoon dappled shade after 1 pm from a nearby tree until the sun shifted enough in late afternoon to provide more direct sun. So if your areas can provide at least 6 hours it should be great. Kordes here seem to prefer all day sun compared to Austin’s. Our zones are probably not very different since I am in alabama

When I bought the place there was already an irrigation system. Since then I've modified, rearranged and replaced things. Added new parts and extended it. It's easy enough to get the parts to set something up. Then you can use your own design/plans to suit your situation. You basically need a controller which you set with the time and frequency when different sections of the system come on. Then you need to connect it to your water supply. If you're on town water that's pretty simple. The way you run the irrigation lines around to your plants depends on what you want, how you want it to look. Some people don't like the sight of irrigation lines running around all over the ground. You can bury them (but not easily if it's on a concrete slab). There are different sizes of irrigation line, here it's black "polypipe". Probably the same thing where you are. There are joiners and branches. Worth putting clamps on joins to prevent them accidentally coming adrift while you're away. You can get drippers, sprinklers, or spray jets to mist water. Check out the gardening sections of your big stores. Most of the staff should be able to give you advice on it and what's available. My system comes on at 5:00AM and runs to 7:00AM. That gives the water a chance to seep in while evaporation rate is at its lowest and before the sun comes up. The advantage of the automated system is that it frees up your time but also allows watering at less convenient times (like when you'd prefer to be sleeping).