Clipping buds of orlah trees
Question
I just planted a mature avocado tree a few weeks ago and it just started flowering. Is now (Adar) a good time to clip the buds at this point to prevent orlah fruit from developing?
Answer
We at Torah VeHa'aretz Insitute recommend clipping the buds of orlah trees to prevent the development of orlah fruit.
There are two reasons for this, halachic and professional:
1) Once orlah fruit develops, someone might inadvertently eat it, transgressing the extremely severe orlah prohibition.
2) Once the buds are clipped, the tree need not waste its energy on fruit that will go to waste. In this way, the third-year fruit will be of much higher-quality.
Practical guidelines: Remove the entire florescence, but don't touch the leaves, which are important for the tree's growth.