The main objective of pruning trees is to create and maintain strong structure by guiding the tree's architecture, and to produce a healthy tree with a functional and pleasing form by removing the smallest possible amount of living tissue at any one pruning. This means that pruning should begin early in the life of a tree, and should be performed at regular intervals when a tree is young. This prevents lateral branches and stems from growing too fast and spoiling good structure.

It may take twenty-five thirty years of regular pruning to develop good trunk and branch structure. Each time, live branches should be removed to direct growth to more desirable tree parts.