Sorry but what's a hugel? I searched the Internet with no positive results.

Looks like a good way to grow veggies quickly, whatever a hugel is.

They seem bit too crowded; yank out the one in the middle.

Regards cutting off the leaves, that's not going to kill them. My wife cuts the leaves all the time on our zucchinis. That doesn't hurt them, nor does it attract extra bugs.

hugelkultur - see below link

Here is a link that might be useful: hugelkultur

Look under Hugelkultur. It a German thing.

I wouldn't dare yank one. They belong to my husband. I just have to get over it like everything else!

Curious... what are you growing on the hugel in which you are worried about the zucc?

When he's asleep tonight go out to the garden with some dental floss - wrap dental floss around the base right below the soil (might need to move a bit of soil first) -- pull dental floss tightly until a clean cut is made through the zuc. -- let zuc. lay where it falls -- DANG CUT WORMS! LOL

Flowers and peppers. They were completely covered by the leaves.

What's a "hugel"?

Did you read the previous comments?? https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=Hugelkultur&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Look it up.