Is it the bare branched shrub in front of the white fence? Or the variegated one? To get the best stem colour these need to be cut back to the base every couple of years. Yours doesn’t appear to have been. Cut it right down next winter or spring, depending on the severity of your winters. It will produce straight sturdy shoots, providing it has sufficient light.

i dont understand what plant in the pic is a red twig ...

and the one just this side of the fence needs all the dead stuff removed ...

and the one behind also needs some rejuvenation pruning ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=rejuvenation+pruning+of+shrubs&iax=videos&ia=videos

i simply cant comment on the topic plant.. without a pic of that plant ...

ken

If it's the really leggy one second to the left, in back, it looks like it may need a sunnier location? I have a Bailey's Red Twig osier that's about 6' high, it's bushy and vase-shaped, so not sure I'm looking at the correct plant in your photo. You do need to cut them back hard every so often and they'll spring right back from the ground.

Both common species of twig dogwood, Cornus alba and C. sericea, will grow and thrive in quite a lot of shade so I doubt lack of sunlight is much of a concern. It is really only necessary to amplify stem coloring. Cutting back hard in late winter or very early spring every other year will generate a thicker, denser shrub and intensify stem color.

My red twig Bailey dogwood likes lots of water or it's leaves will droop. With lots of water the leaves turn up. I know that's not what you asked exactly but watering MAY relieve some of the floppiness.

Thank you all so much for your posts - I’m adding a new photo to illustrate what I’m dealing with. The shrub I’m concerned with is the variegated one in the center (behind it is an overgrown but still ok rose of Sharon and in front of it is a Beauty of Moscow lilac)

The branches are just laying flat on the ground... And these are the new ones, and after the heavy four day long rains that we just had, so not like they are thirsty!

Aha, so it was the variegated one. We’re they floppy before the rain?

Yup... The new branches are just really weak... I ended up staking them in the front to the old wood that we didn’t cut all the way down, but am now just tempted to dig this one out now

It isn't actually crazily floppy for this species, just a bit gangly. They’re never very shapely. The regular cutting to obtain the red stems should cure it imo.

I like it but I like the natural look.

Before digging out, wait until next late winter/very-early spring & cut to ground. You may be surprised w/the result.

The variegated leaves are very pretty next to the brick.

I do like the color but would prefer it if it held its shape better... Will follow your suggestions and cut it down by 2/3 or so - I guess, if that doesn’t work, I can always pull it out fall 2022

No, not 2/3. The idea is to cut it to the ground. We’re talking 2 or 3 inches. Then you’ll get a dense clump of brightly coloured wands.

ALL the way?! That’s terrifying - but will do!

Where I live red twig Bailey dogwood grows vigorously and produces lots of volunteers. I had one in my backyard and now there are several throughout the borders of the yard, all self-sowing. But they didn't grow in my neignbor's yard, possibly because anytime something green that isn't a blade of grass pops up, he nukes it, LOL.