Commentary for Avodah Zarah 100:6
ואלא זיהום אגיזום קא קשיא ליה מ"ש זיהום דשרי ומ"ש גיזום דאסור מי דמי זיהום אוקומי אילנא ושרי גיזום אברויי אילנא ואסור
Perhaps the difficulty is in connection with placing manure and pruning— why is placing manure permitted but pruning forbidden? But are they the same? Placing manure is to preserve the tree and is permitted, but pruning is to strengthen the tree is prohibited!
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The Talmud now suggests that the difficulty is why placing manure is permitted while pruning is prohibited. But this too can be easily explained. It is permitted to preserve a tree during hol hamoed and the sabbatical year. One need not let the tree die and evidently placing manure on cuts in the tree is meant to prevent them from dying. But pruning strengthens the tree and is therefore prohibited.
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