Birchat Ha'ilanot

From Halachipedia

Which trees are fit?

  1. It’s permissible to make a Bracha on a tree that was planted or guarded during Shemitta year. [1]

Who's obligated?

  1. Women are also included in the mitzvah of Birchat Ilanot. [2]

Timing

  1. It's preferable to say the Birchat Hailanot in Nissan, however, if one didn't make the bracha yet, one may make it even after Nissan, and after the fact one may also make the bracha before Nissan. [3]
  2. One may make this Bracha even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha. [4]

How many trees?

References

  1. Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:4)
  2. Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 226:2)
  3. The gemara Brachot 43b writes that one who sees the budding of trees in Nissan should make the Brichat Hailanot. Many Rishonim (including Ritva Rosh Hashana 11a, Sefer Eshkol pg 68) comment that this bracha is commonly made in Nissan but doesn't have to be. So rules the Mishna Brurah 226:1 that the bracha may be made in months other than Nissan. Sh"T Yechava Daat 1:1 argues that it should be made starting in Nissan (and not Adar to be strict for the opinions of the Halachot Ketanot 2:28, and Chida in Birkei Yosef 226:2) and if one didn't see it, one should still say it in Iyar.
  4. Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5)