Are you sure they were dead? My 10 year old ‘Summer Wine’ has branches that leaf out much later than others.

tj

Not sure about dead branches being normal, but for sure this shrub is very, well, "shrubby." Lots and lots of branches, and ninebarks are prone to getting powdery mildew. Maybe you don't have that problem where you are, but it's definitely a Thing here in Minnesota lake country in midsummer.

So I thin my ninebarks every year or so, to let light and air in. I always take care annually to remove any branches that have been affected by powdery mildew (because spores persist, and the fewer the better), and in spring just before bud break I'll spray with horticultural oil, to smother as much disease as I can. The ninebarks have been much healthier under this care regimen.

in my corner of MI .. imo.. this is normal .. if i cared at all .. and i was on limited space .. i would remove it ...

im surprised peeps in colder zone say its not normal ...

maybe its the later summer near 100 degree weeks that it doesnt like???

ken