Question:
Ha Rav,
We live in Yerushalyim. Do we need a non-Jewish gardener (because of Shmitta) specifically to cut down trees by the gas meter? We cannot gain access to the gas meter to take reading of the meter. Also, there might be the shut off valve there as well.
Answer:
You may cut down the branches that are disturbing access to the gas meter and valve. However, you can only cut those branches that are in the way, and not in a way that will benefit the tree.
Best wishes
Sources:
שיעורי שבט הלוי שביעית א-ה.
