I am trying to determine the health (or progressive deterioration) of two cryptomeria that were planted in our yard in November 2021. They looked fine when planted. But by early winter brown-dry started to show and by March the tops were looking quite dry and browning (see pictures). By May the tops are all dry and totally brown (look dead), and the interior/bottoms also have areas of brown dead branches. The landscaper told as in March that it is not uncommon to have browning in Cryptomeria because of freezing temperatures and that it would likely shed the brown. They said to recontact in May if not improved. By May the trees look markedly worse. The landscaper now says the tops just need to be cut off and the tree will regrow and the trees look healthy. About the bottoms he says no concern and that it's all "winter burn" that can be cut off. He sent a picture of what a tree in trouble looks like, with 75% brown. It seems crazy to have to wait to such a point. I am afraid the trees are in trouble (they certainly look terrible in our yard and were expensive)! I also asked a reliable nursery (showed photos) and they said the trees look like they are in trouble, and that new trees should have been watered several times a week from planting to end of Dec and again in the spring. We got no such instructions and they were not watered except for natural rain. Please let our know what the situation could be with our Cryptomeria! Thank you,