the experts will be around soon, but my feeling is no, unless the leaves are yellowing brown and dying. They may be looking pretty poorly but as long as they are still green they are still putting energy into the roots for next year. Is it possible to support them tidy without cutting off the leaves. If you did cut them down now I wonder if they would one try to send up new shoots diverting the plants resources or would they go dormant and you would loose two months worth of energy going into next years growth?? If it were me I would remove anything dead or dying and support the rest guessing that a few weeks of ugly will be better next season. By the way sorry about the loss of your trees it a shame when we loose them.

they are still storing energy in the roots.. to use to pop out of the ground early next spring ...

even damaged leaves can convert sunshine into food ...

soooo .. no matter how ugly they are .. i would leave them alone until ma nature takes them down naturally ...

and i wouldnt be surprised ... if they dont burn to heck.. now that the tree is gone ...

imo.. leave them there.. you have other things that probably need be done ...

ken

If you cut them down know they will likely be smaller next year but will not die. If that's OK with you, you can cut them back. I might leave them there so the tree removers can see them and they may not trample the crowns as much. Trampling the crowns is where the real damage could occur. Afterwards you can cut them back if need be.

Thank you everybody. I will take your advice and leave them.