[Laura]

Our hedging is reasonably new (1 year and 3 months in the ground) but we bought the trees at 5-6 ft high each and cut them back.

They've settled very well for the most part - most of the ground where they are planted is fine but the ground on both sides of the garden piers contained a lot of solid concrete and builders rubble, meaning that the soil is not as rich or as ideal here. In these areas we get leaves dying off quicker than in other areas.

My question is am I doing any harm by removing leaves once they go solid yellow ? (My rationale is that by removing dead leaves, the nourishment will go straight to areas where it can do more good) but I wouldn't like to think I am actually causing harm by doing this. I am not a gardener so could do with advice, thx.

[Liparis]

I wouldn't think your doing much harm, it's likely they would drop off anyway. Keep those parts well mulched with farmyard manure or garden compost to build up good humous in the soil. Make sure they get a couple of buckets of water in dry spells and a good handfull of general fertiliser. Keeping up the mulching will eventually get the soil into a much better condition eventually. Don't be scared to give a good thick layer after watering.
Bill.