I agree with Two Guys with a bit of a difference.. I like to keep the leaves a bit open so light get to all the nooks and crannies. So I tend to remove the larger old leaves as long as there a lot of new growth going on but they's right the energy to convert sugers is in the photo synth of the green stuff. And you need it to keep the plant thriving. But a day or so before I crop I take off all the leaves and trim the buds a bit on the plant.. I think I get a higher THC content as the plant sends augers to the remaining buds in response to the trimming.