variegated ficus dropping leaves

[juan45]

I had a hedge of yucca trees interspersed with variegated ficus. The whole thing was gettuing very crowded and I cut down the yuccas over Christmas. The ficus have now started to shed their leaves - possibly because they are now much more in the sun. Is this to be expected and is there anything I could do to to help them? I'm worried that if I lose them I will have no hedge at all