AIBU to be cross our gardener killed our tree?

[4Smalls]

Hired a local gardener to trim a few trees/bushes etc in December, including our big blossoming cherry tree. Everything looked amazing after he finished. But now that spring is here I realise that he killed the cherry . It was a beloved tree, but I will survive. However, he's coming back to lay a path for us next month. Should I ask him to remove the dead tree at no cost to us or some such? Not sure how to handle this - advice please!

Are you sure it’s dead and not getting over the shock of pruning? My cherry is still in winter mode.

I would mention it that it hasn’t been looking good since the prune and what does he think? He may then accept he accidentally killed it and will sort it out for you.

If he’s coming back then ask him, but don’t accuse him, it’s a bit early surely?

How do you know it’s dead?

Spring isn’t here yet though... not for another month?

I'd be surprised if pruning a cherry tree in winter killed it -
it would still be dormant.

Gosh, thanks everyone. Have realised IABU! I just assumed it's dead because my other trees are all shooting out and budding. But I guess I'm being hasty. Will chill and then ask him how he thinks it looks next month.

My cherry tree is nowhere near blossoming and I don’t except it to for a while.

It may be too soon to tell. We had a silver birch which was getting too big topped and quite severely pruned the back end of 2018. Last spring we thought it was dying but then may-June it started growing again.

However, apparently cherry is the exception to the rule that you should prune trees in winter. If you instructed him to do it then, that's to a large extent your responsibility. (If he was advertising himself as a tree surgeon then I'd have hoped he'd have advised you, but a 'local gardener' isn't necessarily an expert)

@ErrolTheDragon Oh crap, I thought all trees were best pruned in winter :-(

Yeah, so did I - but after reading your post I googled 'pruning cherry trees'. Whatever the outcome for this tree, it's probably worth always doing a quick check before any significant garden work! (Retrospect is a wonderful thing)

4Smalls your gardener should have known when is best to prune a cherry tree so don't blame yourself!

My cherry is also nowhere near blossoming so hopefully your's will be fine :-)

Am crossing fingers. Looks dead but ...hope springs eternal

It’s far too early in the year to assume it’s dead. Where do you live in the UK OP ?

Yes some cherries are best pruned in the summer, due to risk of silver leaf disease. But that’s not a certainty, just a risk. Just wait and see.

FYI it’s not reasonable to expect a jobbing gardener to know details about pruning. Most of them are good for grass and hedge cutting, weeding, clearing up etc but not much else. Either hire a professional (and pay ) or consult google.

Mine looks “dead” but it looks like that every winter.

@ErrolTheDragon is correct in that cherries should ideally be pruned in late summer, early autumn, as should plums, greengages and damsons. However, pruning out of season will not neccessarily kill a tree or shrub, but as a huge shock to the plant, may retard its growth or recovery for a while. Don't lose heart, it may not be dead, just slow coming out of dormancy. Is it a winter or spring flowering cherry, just out of interest? If the former, it may well not flower this season, but put on growth to flower beautifully next year. If spring flowering, it is possible also that your gardener has inadvertantly 'pruned out' the flower buds. Look closely to see if there any leaf buds visible and put your mind at rest. Good luck

There's a gardening topic here where you will get expert advice.
Meanwhile, I can tell you that cherries don't appreciate being pruned at any time.

Mines also no where near blooming, but a neighbours is, different trees, hers is always earlier than mine.

If it’s a beloved tree do you not know when it booms? It’s also not yet spring.

@Hedgesfullofbirds It's spring flowering. Not this year though, I don't think!

@DarrellMakepeace Ha!

@4Smalls, can you go and scrape a twig, see if there is any green under the bark? Dead trees' growth feels "corky" and will snap off rather than twang if you flick a twig. Look at any buds, are they shrivelled rather than strong and firm? That should give you an idea whether it's still dormant or has actually died.

In general the best time to prune anything is immediately after flowering, as this gives the plant the longest possible time to recover. Some plants flower on the previous year's growth, so when you trim them you lose at least a year's flowering, maybe more. Plants which flower very early in the year, like forsythia and almond, will not flower as well if they are pruned in December, as all the flower buds have been trimmed off.

As PPs have pointed out, cherries and other members of the Prunus family should never be pruned in winter, regardless of the flowering season, as the risk of disease is substantially increased. (And, frankly, they don't like it.)

My cherry is still totally dormant too

People who are "cross" make me smile - it sounds like something out of the 1950s

It’s probably in shock and it is , just , still winter. It might just need a bit more recovery time.
I’d certainly mention your concerns to your gardener and see what he says. If he’s a good enough gardener, he would have advised against chopping.