Replenishing pots during shemitah
Question
I have a newly planted garden. Weeds from the nursery have really enjoyed the fertilizer and compost. Can I remove them to protect the plant? These are not the kind of weeds you can cut at soil surface as will just come back stronger.
Answer
It is better to cut it above the surface, spray it, or remove it in a different way.
If there is no other possibility, and you can't do all the above, AND if you don't remove the weeds your plant will die - you may uproot the weeds during shemitah.
Question
I have so many clients in apartments asking to replenish their pots. They can only do it if there is a roof above them and they are higher than the ground floor. correct?
Answer
If there is a roof above (best if walls 10 tefachim also, but that is a stringency), this is permitted. If on the ground floor, it is ALSO permitted to replenish pots as long as there is a detaching surface beneath the pots (glass, metal, plastic) that is broad enough so that all of the foliage is above this surface as well.