Permission to cut the foliage short (5)
I believe the answer is:
leave
'permission' is the definition.
(leave is permission or authorisation)
'foliage short' is the wordplay.
'foliage' becomes 'leaves' (I've seen this in another clue).
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'leaves' with its final letter taken off is 'LEAVE'.
'to cut the' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leave that I've seen before include "Brexit's aim" , "Don't touch" , "Relinquish - holiday" , "Break" , "Permission to go; allow to remain" .)