Will a ninebark which was pruned to the ground regain its previous height? I live in Saskatoon. 3b? My worry is it is going to grow out rather than up. I fear I made a mistake and will soon be served with divorce papers. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Regards,
Ninebark, also known as Physocarpus sp. is a medium-sized shrub grown primarily for its interesting and colorful foliage. Ninebark flowers early in the season on one-year old wood, growing at or near ground level.
Ninebark grows best in a well-drained, fertile soil, however, they are very hardy and adaptable and will tolerate a wide range of soil types and conditions. It grows in full sun to part shade. It grows best in full sun in the northern part of its growing range, such as where you live in Saskatoon.
To keep the plant tidy, in spring some of the oldest branches can be removed by cutting them off at the base. Or, the plant can be trimmed to shape after bloom. Cut back the stems about one-third after bloom to make plants more bushy. Don’t prune past mid-summer.
If a ninebark plant is large and out of control, it can be cut back to near the ground in late winter to rejuvenate, and it will regrow in a more compact form.
If you removed all the branches, the shrub will eventually regrow to its previous height, but it may take more than one season to do so. Depending on when you cut back the plant, there may not be any flowers the next spring.