Pruning trees with fruit 5780
Question
I heard that halachah forbids pruning branches of fruit trees that have fruit on them. Is this true, and in any case, which halachot apply to pruning trees—especially fruit trees?
Answer
Yehuda Heller, agronomist
In general, there isn't an issue with pruning branches with fruit, yet from a botanical perspective at times it is not prudent to do so.
If the tree is in its fourth year (neta revay) or during shemitah, it is problematic to prune and destroy branches with fruitlets, since the fruits are holy and are forbidden to destroy.