It should be ok this time of year I think but I don't do trees sounds like hes made a right mess
One thing I do know for sure is that he hasn't topped them because as the name suggests to do that you take some off the top what he has done would probably be called lifting the crown
I managed to get hold of him on the blower (he was reluctant to come back) and he said the wife asked him to tidy them up
the garden was stripped and redesigned by a landscape architect 12 years ago
which I duly built to the drawing
10 years work down the tubes
I cant even talk about what he has done to other bushes and shrubs
LLL
the garden was designed to have a slightly wild look
I dont like topiary
but its done now
lucky I couldnt put my hands near him last night or I would be locked up now
LLL
What a muppet no wonder you're fuming. I'm not a tree surgeon but I do know a bit about trees and plants. Birches are sensitive, I have lost a few over the years for various reasons but I dont reckon yours will die. Have you got a pic?
He's only a muppet cos he's done something not requested. As far as timing goes, this is the time to prune them. As long as he hasn't taken more than 30% roughly from the trees and he's done nice clean collar cuts and using the appropriate oil in the chainsaw they should be fine.
If you want to get them back to wild looking in several years take the tops out of them to encourage side growth as long as you will be still not breeching 30% of total loss of the tree.