I doubt that your husband will have killed it, Patricia, but if it was 'hacked' rather than carefully pruned it will probably not look very pretty in future. I would consider replacing it.

I agree its unlikely to be killed. next yr you may be able to prune it into a better shape or as BA says replace it.

I once cut one right back to the stump - about 2 feet high. It is now a lovely bush again. It took about 2 years for it to get back to a nice shape.

As long as a 'reasonable' shape has been maintained, I think it should be ok. You may want or need to tweek it.

I did a similar thing to Hywel - all was well. Well, it did sulk for that first year, but after that it was lovely.

Thank you so much for informative answers I will have to wait and see what happens,needless to say atmosphere between my husband and I is frosty!

Ha! I would BAN HIM from the garden LOL
Suppose he was only trying to help, but don't be too frosty lol with him, life is too short, we all make mistakes some time or other.
Hope it will be ok :o))

but was that his plan? its the sort of thing my OH does so he doesnt get asked to help again.
burnt my blouse the first time i asked him to do some ironing, he singed the next one. I do the ironing as my blouses cost more than his shirts!!

Have you tried singeing his shirts so he wants to do them himself?

LOL you lot! Course, Seaburngirl, an iron can be a lethal weapon in the right hands. Which is probably about the only use I've got for one most of the time! Merry crimble everyone.

the trouble is, when there ISN'T an OH around to whom you can say, 'oh, please, dear, could you just dig that plant root out/move that heavy bush/lop that big branch for me', you wistfully wish you had one - and when you DO have one, they enthusiastically weed up the new lettuces (as mine once did) and raze to the ground with one of their beloved mechanical toys, your cherished new plants...

There's no winning, eh? But we love them, really...

Meanwhile "Joyeux Noel" to everyone