Artists understand what they are doing and scientists understand why . This should begin when trees are planted and continue each year thereafter. Provide for light penetration. Good light quality throughout the tree increases fruit bud development for following years and increases the quality of the current crop. Control tree size.
Most fruit trees require pruning to control branch spread as well as tree height.
This also serves to encourage new growth that will result in new fruit bearing areas. Remove damaged wood. Some wood damage occurs almost every year from such things as wind damage, fruit weight, winter injury and disease and insects. Pruning is a dwarfing process and may result in a slight reduction in yield compared to an unpruned tree, but the size, color and quality of remaining fruit will be improved. The best time to prune is during late winter or early spring just before the beginning of active growth.